In a significant geopolitical move, the Trump administration has decided to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, citing the Syrian government's positive actions towards disassociating itself from acts of international terrorism. This decision, announced on Monday, is expected to eliminate the last major hurdles for private sector investment in Syria and facilitate its re-integration into the global economy. The new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who once led an al-Qaeda offshoot, has been recognized by the US administration. Simultaneously, his Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was previously affiliated with al-Qaeda in Syria and was listed as a global terrorist organization by the US, has also been removed from this list. This transformation took place in late 2024 when HTS led the rebel offensive that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad, and now dominates Sharaa's transitional administration. The US aims to bring Syria into its political sphere rather than under the influence of Russia or China. However, despite this move, significant risks remain due to Syria's continued instability, lack of a representative government, and the growing tensions between its neighbors Israel and Turkey. US Secretary Marco Rubio stated that this action will pave the way for Syrians to achieve prosperity, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that it would foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability. The Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed this decision as a historic step, expressing their commitment to eliminating the effects of isolation and creating an environment based on transparency, mutual interests, and respect. This action leaves only three countries on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.