U.S. Senate removes Syria from “rogue states” list in bipartisan move
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – In a bipartisan decision, the U.S. Senate approved on Saturday the removal of Syria from Washington’s list of so-called “rogue states.”
The move, endorsed by members of both the Republican and Democratic parties, reflects a shift in how the U.S. government views Syria’s current status in relation to its foreign policy objectives.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed her satisfaction with the adoption of her proposed amendment to delist Syria.
Shaheen emphasized that the rogue states list now includes Iran, Russia, and North Korea. She added that Syria must continue distancing itself from its past affiliations and move toward democracy, stability, and security.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which backed the legislation to remove Syria from the designation, clarified that countries on the rogue states list are prohibited from cooperating with or receiving assistance from the United States in the field of civilian nuclear energy.
Previously, Syria had been listed alongside Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
The United States applies the term “rogue states” to nations it accuses of pursuing weapons of mass destruction, supporting terrorist organizations through funding, arming, harboring, or training their members, opposing U.S. interests, and violating human rights. However, these criteria are subject to change depending on shifts in U.S. foreign policy.