ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Kingdom officially re-established diplomatic relations with Syria on Saturday. The announcement was made while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy was in Damascus where he met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
“Eight months on from the collapse of the Assad regime, the UK has officially re-established diplomatic relations with the Syrian Government following the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Damascus today,” read a statement from the UK government.
Lammy was the first British minister to visit Syria in 14 years.
The UK is committed “to support Syria as the new government seeks to rebuild the economy, deliver an inclusive political transition, and forge a path to justice for the victims of the Assad regime,” the statement added.
During his visit, the UK pledged an additional £2 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to help Syria’s new government eliminate Assad’s chemical weapons.
In his meeting with Sharaa, Lammy reaffirmed London’s commitment to assisting Damascus, stating the visit aimed “to reiterate the importance of an inclusive and representative political transition in Syria.”
“A stable Syria is in the UK’s interests, reducing the risk of irregular migration, ensuring the destruction of chemical weapons, tackling the threat of terrorism and delivering the Government’s Plan for Change,” Lammy said.
A statement from the Syrian Presidency said their meeting focused on bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation, and regional and international developments.
