Washington: US Representative Joe Wilson has called on the State Department to remove Syria from its State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) list, citing the nation's recent strides toward peace. Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina and a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, emphasized Syria's efforts in aligning with US interests to counter terrorism and further President Trump's regional agenda. According to TRTworld.com, Wilson highlighted Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assessment that Syria is fulfilling all necessary conditions to be removed from the SST list. He also advocated for a reduction in Syria's travel advisory status to promote investment and tourism, urging policymakers to "give Syria a chance." The push for reassessment comes amidst the Trump administration's ongoing review of Syria's status following the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime and the subsequent leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa. A State Department official, speaking anonymously to the Anadolu agency, confirmed the review is proceeding in accordance with congressional criteria but withheld any specific timeline. The process involves multiple procedural steps by both the Department and the President. Syria has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979, a classification shared with only a few other countries, including Cuba, North Korea, and Iran. This label imposes extensive limitations on security assistance, financial dealings, and foreign investment. In a significant diplomatic development, President al-Sharaa visited the White House in November, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader since Syria's independence in 1946. This followed a meeting with Trump in Riyadh in May 2025, just before the US lifted the Caesar sanctions. Subsequently, Syria became the 90th member of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, formalizing its participation with a "political cooperation declaration." Despite these advancements, the SST designation remains, pending the outcome of the rev iew.