Syrian president makes 1st UK visit as diplomatic ties thaw after years of estrangement

Ahmad al-Sharaa arrives in London for talks with British officials following restoration of relations in 2025

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in London on Tuesday for his first official visit to the UK, marking another step in the gradual restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit follows a period of renewed engagement after the UK formally re-established ties with Syria in July 2025, ending years of estrangement during the Assad regime era. Al-Sharaa, who traveled to London after a trip to Germany, is accompanied by a ministerial delegation, and he is expected to hold talks with senior British officials aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across a range of areas. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed al-Sharaa at 10 Downing Street, marking one of the first high-level engagements between the UK and Syria in many years. Their meeting lasted nearly an hour. Diplomatic ties have been gradually rebuilt in recent months. Syria initiated efforts in November to reopen its embassy in Belgrave Square, marking a symbolic step that underscores the ongoing thaw in relations. A charge d'affaires was supposed to be appointed in January to further formalize the renewed diplomatic presence; however, the appointment has not yet taken place. The UK's re-engagement gained traction last summer, beginning with then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy's visit to Damascus in July 2024, the first by a British minister in 14 years. A follow-up visit by Hamish Falconer, Britain's minister for the Middle East, in August strengthened the process, laying the groundwork for greater political and diplomatic cooperation.