Why Washington Is Pressing Syria to Move Away from Chinese Telecom Systems

The United States has delivered a clear message to Syria’s new leadership: reliance on Chinese telecommunications technology conflicts with American interests and threatens US national security, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The warning came during an unreported meeting between a US State Department team and Syrian Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal in San Francisco on Tuesday—the latest sign of Washington’s active engagement with Damascus following the ouster of longtime leader Bashar Assad, who had maintained a strategic partnership with China.

The Technology at Issue

Syria is exploring the possibility of procuring Chinese technology to support its telecommunications towers and internet service provider infrastructure, according to a Syrian businessman involved in procurement talks. This follows years of heavy reliance on Chinese equipment due to US sanctions imposed on successive Assad governments over the civil war.

Huawei technology currently accounts for more than 50 percent of the infrastructure of Syriatel and MTN, Syria’s only telecom operators, according to a senior source at one of the companies and documents reviewed by Reuters. Huawei did not respond to a request for comment.

Washington’s Position

A US diplomat familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the State Department “clearly urged Syrians to use American technology or technology from allied countries in the telecoms sector.” The message was conveyed without specifying whether financial or logistical support would accompany the recommendation.

A State Department spokesperson elaborated: “We urge countries to prioritize national security and privacy over lower-priced equipment and services in all critical infrastructure procurement. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

The spokesperson added that Chinese intelligence and security services “can legally compel Chinese citizens and companies to share sensitive data or grant unauthorized access to their customers’ systems,” arguing that promises by Chinese companies to protect privacy are “entirely inconsistent with China’s own laws and well-established practices.” China has repeatedly rejected allegations of using technology for espionage.

Syria’s Response

Syrian officials acknowledge the US concerns but point to practical challenges. Infrastructure development projects are time-critical, and Damascus is seeking greater vendor diversity. While open to partnering with US firms, export controls and “over-compliance” remain barriers, according to a person familiar with the San Francisco meeting.

The Syrian Ministry of Telecommunications told Reuters that any equipment decisions are made “in accordance with national technical and security standards, ensuring data protection and service continuity.” The ministry emphasized it is prioritizing diversification of partnerships and technology sources to serve the national interest.

Syria’s telecommunications infrastructure remains inadequate, with network coverage weak outside city centers and connection speeds in many areas barely exceeding a few kilobits per second after 14 years of war.

Regional Investment

In early February, Saudi Arabia’s largest telecom operator, STC, announced an $800 million investment to “strengthen telecommunications infrastructure and connect Syria regionally and internationally through a fiber-optic network extending over 4,500 kilometers.” The Saudi investment offers an alternative to Chinese dominance, though implementation will take time.

The Bigger Picture

The US pressure reflects a broader strategic competition with China over influence in post-conflict reconstruction. As Syria rebuilds, every contract signed, every network built, and every technology standard adopted locks in relationships and dependencies that will last decades.

Washington wants those relationships to favor American and allied companies, not Chinese competitors. Damascus wants the best technology it can get at the lowest price, with the fewest political strings attached. Beijing wants to maintain and expand its foothold in a country where it already has significant presence.

For ordinary Syrians, the geopolitical maneuvering matters less than whether their phones work, whether their internet connects, and whether the infrastructure that collapsed during war can be rebuilt. Those outcomes depend on decisions being made now—in San Francisco meetings, in ministry offices, and in boardrooms where the future of Syria’s telecom sector is being shaped.

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