The Maldives has welcomed the decision by the United States to remove Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.
In a statement released today, the Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. decision, expressing hope that this move will pave the way for the reconstruction and stabilization of Syria.
The United States first designated Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in the late 1970s during the presidency of Hafez al-Assad. The designation was based on allegations of Syria supporting Palestinian militant groups.
Following the removal from the list, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa congratulated the citizens of Syria and pledged to accelerate national reconstruction efforts moving forward.
Al-Sharaa’s forces overthrew the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad and established a new government in December 2024. This transition marked the end of the 14-year-long Syrian civil war.
The Maldives had previously designated Syria as a conflict zone. Furthermore, the Maldivian government had officially classified al-Sharaa’s former group, al-Nusra, as a terrorist organization.
The Maldives last updated its official list of designated conflict zones and terrorist organizations in December 2024, coinciding with the conclusion of the Syrian civil war.
