President Trump formally extended the national emergency declaration in Syria on Tuesday, continuing the U.S. policy toward the Syrian government that began in 2004 under George W. Bush.

“The president took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq,” the White House noted in an official notice of its intent to extend the national emergency declaration.