The British Foreign Secretary has pledged his support for Syrian new government after discussing with interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The UK has announced that British Foreign Secretary David Lamie is officially restoring diplomatic ties with Syria in order to travel to the capital Damascus and meet with interim Syrian Ahmed Alshara.
Al-Shara received the Ramie on Saturday along with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani, according to photos from the meeting announced by the president.
“After more than a decade of conflict, there is new hope for the Syrian people,” Ramie said in a statement released by his office, saying the visit was the first time in 14 years by a British pastor in Syria.
“The UK is reestablishing diplomatic relations because it is in our interest to support the new government to provide their commitment to building a stable, safer and prosperous future for all Syrians,” he said.
Syria has improved ties with the West after longtime President Bashar al-Assad was removed from power in December 2024 in an attack led by Al-Sharah Hayat Tahri al-Sham (HTS) armed groups.
In April, the UK government lifted sanctions on 12 Syrian groups, including the government sector and media outlets, helping the country rebuild after the collapse of al-Assad.
A few weeks ago, the UK had dropped sanctions primarily on banks, oil companies and two dozen Syrian companies.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle a net of sanctions against Syria, which crippled the country’s economy under Al Assad.
In a statement posted to X, Syrian Foreign Minister Al Shaibani welcomed Trump’s decision and said it “opens the door for the much-anticipated reconstruction and development.”
“It will unravel the obstacles to economic recovery and open the country to the international community,” he said.
Syrian new leaders have struggled to rebuild the country’s abolished economy and infrastructure after nearly 14 years of civil war that killed 500,000 people.
