UK restores Syria ties with first ministerial visit in 14 years | UK | News
England officially restored diplomatic relations with Syria for the first time in 14 years. Foreign Minister David Lammy visits Damascus eight months after the overthrow of the dictator Bashar al -Assad.
Lammy is the first British minister to visit Syria since he dived into the Civil War in 2011, and his arrival points to the re-establishment of direct diplomatic ties with the new Syrian government led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Lammy, who spoke from Damascus, said that Britain has been interacting again, because “the new government is in our interests for all Syrians to commit a stable, safer and prosperous future to build a future”.
The UK has committed a new support of £ 96.5 million, including new support of £ 2 million for the organization of chemical weapons (OPCW) to help the Assad period stocks to destroy the assad period stocks, including new support in humanitarian assistance and long -term rescue funds. Money will also support women -led businesses, trainings and Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
Lammy also met with Syrian civil defense volunteers, known as white helmets, and continued to support life -saving jobs, including the safe lifting of emergency medical care and exploded ammunition.
FCDO has filed a Pragmatic next step to help the reconstruction of Syria after more than a decade, while regional analysts warned that the re -participation of England can be seen as a implicit approval of a fragile and controversial power structure.
Satorus Strategic Risk Group Regional Specialist Beth Martin-Board reflects that the movement is “adapting to a new multipolar order that the West is no longer worked for a new multipolar order”.
“This is the way of providing a geopolitical basis before Britain has fully dominated the field of China, Russia or Iran,” he said. “But it was not a clean break from Al-Sharaa Assad-with a militant fraction with ties with HTS, and it came to power with power, not a democratic transition.”
“It is not a clean break from Al-Sharaa Assad-a figure connected to the old HTS, and it is important to remember that this government is not a democratic transition, but from a militant attack.
“The government will welcome any economic support and assistance from the UK to use it to position themselves legitimate.
“On the other hand, a power gap in Syria can offer potentially extensive national security risks and having Britain can help protect against it.”
The fact that Assad continued last December pointed to the end of the influence for both Russia and Iran and great strategic advantages.
However, the transition government struggled to implement control and faces ongoing uprisings, proxy conflicts and deep legitimacy problems.
Alevi communities, which are seen as loyal to the old regime, are targeted by sectarianism and jihadist groups such as Ansar Al-Sunnah benefit from the power gap.
Martin-Board also emphasized the risk of accidental justifying groups in Northeast Syria, concerns about the security of ISIS detention camps and the capacity to effectively manage the UK funds.
Since 2011, England has provided £ 4.5 billion to Syria and its neighbors.
However, when the Assad period is over and new risks arise, the authorities say that Britain can no longer afford to act as a frozen conflict in Syria.
As a Whitehall source says: “Syria may be torn, but still in the game. If we are not there, there will be others.”
Last year, Sir Alex Younger, former president of MI6, warned that a key part of the UK’s foreign policy should be to maintain stability in Eastern Syria, where Islamic state prisoners were made.
They are also included in Shamima Begum, who fled Bethnal Green in London in 2014 to join the Islamic state in London, and rapidly called ‘Jihadi Bride’ after marrying a ISIS warrior and becoming children with him.
Martin Board, “Damascus with Damascus and Al-Sharaa re-participation, especially in the northeast, ISIS fighters are kept in the detention areas of the concerns about who has operational control,” he said.
“There is an opinion that the re -participation of the UK indirectly justifies a power structure that may deprive these camps or capacity to secure these camps.”
Despite the uncertainty, the position of England is that it is necessary to restore relations to deal with irregular migration, to prevent the revival of Daesh and to ensure regional stability.
“A stable Syria is in the interests of England,” Lammy said.
“Reducing the risk of irregular migration, to destruction of chemical weapons, to fight against the threat of terrorism and to present the government’s plan of change.”
