Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Tuesday during his first visit to the UK, as Damascus steps up efforts to bolster relations with Western governments following the 2024 downfall of the Assad regime.
Sharaa held talks with Starmer at Downing Street as part of a European tour aimed at reopening diplomatic channels and boosting economic and political cooperation.
According to the Syrian presidency, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar.
Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in development, investment and economic cooperation, alongside regional and international developments amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The visit marks a significant moment in the gradual rebuilding of UK-Syria ties , which were severed during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad following his government’s crackdown during the early years of the war.
Relations have slowly resumed over the past year as UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Damascus in July 2025, while Syria reopened its embassy in London in November after a 13-year closure.
Sharaa arrived in London early Tuesday, leading a high-level delegation and is expected to meet UK officials during his visit.
The UK stop follows a visit to Germany on Monday, where Sharaa met Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks on reconstruction, migration and economic cooperation.
Both sides discussed facilitating the return of Syrian refugees, with Merz saying they were working towards enabling a majority of Syrians in Germany to return over the coming years.
Sharaa, who has sought to strengthen ties with Western capitals since coming to power, also promoted investment opportunities in Syria's energy, transport and tourism sectors during his Berlin visit, as the country looks to rebuild after years of war, sparked by the Assad regime's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests and leading to an armed rebellion.
However, his outreach has drawn criticism from rights groups and some European politicians, who have warned against premature normalisation with his government and the return of refugees, citing ongoing instability as well as concerns over governance and human rights.
Despite this, Damascus appears to be accelerating diplomatic engagement, positioning reconstruction and economic cooperation at the centre of its efforts to re-enter the international arena.