Overview

• Foreign Secretary David Lammy became the first UK minister in 14 years to visit Damascus, meeting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani.
• London pledged £94.5 million for humanitarian and development aid and committed £2 million to the OPCW to eliminate remaining chemical weapons stocks.
• In April the UK lifted asset freezes on Syrian ministries, media outlets and economic entities, building on US and EU sanctions relief in May and a US executive order ending Washington’s sanction program.
• Western engagement with Syria’s interim government is conditioned on inclusive governance reforms, protections for minorities and robust counter-terror cooperation.
• The move reflects a broader Western strategy to stabilize Syria’s political transition and support reconstruction following the December ouster of Bashar al-Assad.