US Senate removes Syria from rogue states list

Sunday 08 June 2025 - 10:33

The US Senate recently passed a resolution to remove Syria from an unofficial list referred to as the "rogue states." This list includes countries with which the United States prohibits cooperation, especially in civil nuclear activities.

According to a White House statement shared on platform X, Syria has been designated since 1979 as a "state sponsor of terrorism" by the US Department of State. This status enforces strict limitations such as bans on foreign aid, export controls, arms sales restrictions, dual-use goods monitoring, and other financial and procedural sanctions.

The term "rogue states" is not a formal legal classification in the US but rather a political label used mainly in the 1990s and early 2000s to describe countries accused of supporting international terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction, systematically violating human rights, or threatening regional and global security.

The concept gained prominence during President Bill Clinton’s administration and was further developed under George W. Bush, who in 2002 introduced the term "Axis of Evil" to describe Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, a label similar to "rogue states."

It is important to distinguish between "rogue states" and officially designated "state sponsors of terrorism." The latter is a formal US Department of State designation with direct legal consequences, including sanctions and aid restrictions, whereas "rogue states" is an informal political term used to justify isolation or pressure policies.

Countries like Syria, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Libya, and Venezuela have been repeatedly described as "rogue states" by the US. Removing Syria from this list does not automatically improve diplomatic relations or lift sanctions, but it signals a possible reassessment of its conduct and the potential for conditional cooperation.