Reuters: Washington Pressures Syria to Shift Away from Chinese Telecom Systems

ARK News.. Reuters reported on Thursday that the United States has warned Syria against relying on Chinese technology in its telecommunications sector, arguing that such dependence conflicts with U.S. interests and poses national security concerns.

According to three informed sources, the message was conveyed during an undisclosed meeting held Tuesday in San Francisco between a delegation from the U.S. State Department and Syrian Communications Minister Abdul Salam Haykal. The sources said Washington requested clarification regarding Damascus’s plans to use Chinese telecommunications equipment.

A U.S. diplomat familiar with the matter said the State Department clearly urged the Syrian side to adopt American or allied technology in telecommunications infrastructure projects.

A department spokesperson added that Washington encourages countries to prioritize national security and data protection when procuring equipment linked to critical infrastructure.

The spokesperson noted that Chinese laws allow authorities access to corporate data—an issue Washington considers a security risk—while Beijing has repeatedly denied using its technologies for espionage purposes.

For its part, Syria’s Ministry of Communications said its decisions regarding equipment and infrastructure are based on national technical and security standards to ensure data protection and service continuity. It stressed that telecommunications development projects are time-sensitive and that Damascus seeks to diversify suppliers and partnerships in line with national interests. It remains unclear whether the United States has offered alternative financial or logistical support.

Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure relies heavily on Chinese technology, particularly from Huawei, whose equipment accounts for more than 50% of the networks operated by Syriatel and MTN Syria, according to sources and documents reviewed by Reuters. The development comes as Syria works to rehabilitate a telecommunications sector damaged by 14 years of conflict and to attract foreign investment.

Recently, the Saudi Telecom Company announced an $800 million investment to lay more than 4,500 kilometers of fiber-optic cable aimed at strengthening regional and international connectivity.

The Syrian Ministry of Communications said U.S. restrictions continue to limit the entry of certain technologies and services into the Syrian market, expressing readiness to expand cooperation once those restrictions are eased.

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