Britain Re-Establishing Relations with Syria, Says UK Foreign Secretary

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Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa and UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Britain is re-establishing diplomatic relations with Syria after the country’s years-long civil war, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced during a visit to the capital Damascus.

“There is renewed hope for the Syrian people,” Lammy said in a statement. “It is in our interests to support the new government to deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and prosperous future for all Syrians.”

Lammy’s visit to Syria is the first by a British minister in 14 years and is accompanied by a pledge of £94.5m for urgent humanitarian aid and to support the country’s long-term recovery and help countries hosting Syrian refugees in the region.

The west has been slowly resetting its approach to Syria since insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Bashar al-Assad as president in December after more than 13 years of war.

Just days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating a key sanctions programme on Syria, effectively ending the country’s isolation from the international financial system and paving the way for post-war reconstruction.

The United Kingdom followed suit earlier in April, easing its own sanctions by unfreezing the assets of Syria’s central bank along with 23 other entities, including banks and oil companies, in a move aimed at encouraging foreign investment. However, sanctions targeting individuals associated with the former regime remain in place.

Speaking after his meetings with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and President Ahmed al-Sharaa, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised that a stable Syria would help curb “irregular migration,” ensure the destruction of chemical weapons, and address the ongoing threat of terrorism.

During the talks, Lammy also underscored the importance of an “inclusive and representative political transition” in Syria and reaffirmed Britain’s ongoing support for such efforts, according to an official statement.

The British Foreign Secretary is also scheduled to travel to Kuwait, where discussions will focus on regional security and deepening bilateral ties. While there, he is expected to announce a new partnership with the Gulf monarchy aimed at addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan.



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