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LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE

UK Foreign Secretary Visits Syria to Restore Diplomatic Ties

First high-level visit in over a decade marks diplomatic reset

05 July 2025 · 23:24 UTC

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has travelled to Damascus to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials, marking the first such visit in 14 years.

The trip signals a formal restoration of diplomatic relations after years of estrangement over Syria's brutal civil war.

Officials say the move reflects a new approach aimed at engaging on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism, though critics warn it risks legitimizing a regime accused of widespread abuses.