US presses Syria to shift from Chinese telecoms systems, cites threat to national security

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by ReutersFebruary 26, 2026 at 11:42 PM

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The United States has urged Syria to avoid using Chinese technology in its telecommunications sector, citing national security concerns. This message was delivered during a meeting in San Francisco between a US State Department team and Syrian Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal on Tuesday. Syria is considering Chinese technology to support its telecommunications infrastructure. The US is coordinating with Syria since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power in 2024. Syrian officials emphasized the urgency of infrastructure development and the need for vendor diversity, while also expressing interest in partnering with US firms but noting challenges with export controls.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

San Francisco ×250% Bashar al-Assad 50% Ahmed al-Sharaa 50% Abdulsalam Haykal 60% US State Department 70% China ×270% United States ×590% Syria ×790%

Keywords

telecommunications 90% us-syria relations 80% chinese technology 80% national security 70% infrastructure development 60% export controls 50% vendor diversity 40%