Ankara: President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is likely to remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. "I think I will. Why wouldn't I?" Trump remarked when questioned about the potential removal of Syria from the terrorism list. His comments arose during a meeting with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital. Trump commended al-Sharaa for doing "a great job," adding, "That's a good question. Yeah, I will." He further noted that Syria has become "very stable," emphasizing, "It's really been stabilized, and we're proud of that."

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump praised al-Sharaa for his leadership during the meeting, crediting him with the rapid and successful unification of the nation. The US president lauded the Syrian leader, saying, "He's done a really fantastic job as president. He's unified the country in a very short period of time," and described him as a "strong person" who is "respected by everybody." Reflecting on Syria's transition, Trump mentioned that the situation was initially a "real mess" and a "very disjointed place" before the new administration brought it together. He added, "We released sanctions from the country, which really, I think, was a big boost. We're proud of the job he's doing."

In terms of regional security and military coordination, Trump suggested that the new Syrian government might play a role in addressing regional threats. When asked about Syria's potential assistance in combating Hezbollah, Trump responded, "They could help. We'll find out. I think we're making a lot of progress." He also mentioned discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Tel Aviv's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, stating, "I think they want to," and claimed that Israel is "getting along" with Lebanon.