Overview
- Foreign Secretary David Lammy met President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Damascus to formally restore Britain’s diplomatic ties severed over a decade ago.
- Britain pledged £94.5 million in humanitarian and development aid to support Syria’s recovery and relief efforts for neighbouring refugee-hosting countries.
- Earlier this year, London lifted sanctions on Syrian ministries, media outlets and several businesses to facilitate economic reintegration.
- The UK contributed $2.7 million to the OPCW to aid in the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles.
- The visit follows a US executive order by President Trump ending many American sanctions on Syria and opening the door to its removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list.