On Tuesday, March 31, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa held high-level official meetings in the British capital, London, the first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024. The meetings included King Charles III at Buckingham Palace and Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street.
According to Agence France-Presse, citing a spokesperson for the British government, Starmer and al-Sharaa discussed the need for a workable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the economic fallout of its prolonged closure. They agreed to work with other parties to restore freedom of navigation.
The British prime minister welcomed the Syrian government’s action against the Islamic State group, noting progress in counterterrorism. He also called for stronger cooperation on the return of irregular migrants, border security, and combating human smuggling networks.
On Monday, al-Sharaa met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, where the two sides discussed the issue of Syrian refugees in Germany, which hosts the largest Syrian community in the European Union.
Political transition and Syria’s future
Later, al-Sharaa took part in a discussion session at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, where he presented his vision for the transitional phase, as well as Syria’s domestic and foreign policy priorities.
He said Syria is moving toward holding free elections, pointing to what he described as relative internal stability, reflected in the national dialogue, the constitutional declaration, and the election of the People’s Assembly.
He added that the People’s Assembly would form committees to redraft the constitution in a way that defines the duties of the head of state and the application of the law, without imposing new laws on citizens.
Al-Sharaa stressed that the Syrian state has both domestic and international legitimacy, adding that since the new administration arrived in Damascus, weapons have been confined to state control and the rule of law has been enforced. He said, “It is not sustainable for Syria to have armed factions and groups.”
Integrating the SDF, relations with Iran and Hezbollah
Regarding northeastern Syria, al-Sharaa said the state had held talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), noting that military confrontation was not an option. “The SDF is now being integrated into the state in a constructive manner,” he said.
On Iran, he said there are no official relations with Tehran, adding that Syria is taking a cautious approach to opening relations with it.
He added that Damascus had received advice to pursue a negotiating track with Iran rather than a military option.
He also said that relations with Hezbollah would be handled through negotiations with the Lebanese state, expressing hope that Syria would not be forced to respond to any interference.
On relations with Moscow, al-Sharaa said Russia and Syria have historical ties, noting that Russian bases in Syria would be turned into training centers for the Syrian army.
Position on Israel and transitional justice
Speaking about Israel, al-Sharaa said Israel has dealt with Syria in a negative way, adding, “We tried through dialogue and discussion to reach good points, but at the last moments everything changed.”
He added that “Syria shares a common experience with Gaza, and has suffered as the people of Gaza have suffered,” noting that Damascus had tried from the outset to distance Syria from tensions.
In another context, he said transitional justice is one of the priorities of Syrian policy and requires institutional building and a clear legal reference to hold perpetrators accountable.
He said, “We have set standards for holding perpetrators of crimes committed in Syria over the past 14 years accountable, and we are among those who suffered crimes by the former regime.”
Refugees and reconstruction
Al-Sharaa said the return of refugees is tied to Syria’s reconstruction, noting that European countries had received Syrian refugees and expressing hope that return would be voluntary for those who wish to go back.
He stressed the importance of strengthening national belonging and providing job opportunities to encourage return, in addition to benefiting from the expertise of refugees abroad.
He added that Syria had been isolated from the world and that the government had taken steps to bring it out of that isolation through investment and by turning the country into an economic opportunity.
First visit since ties resumed
Al-Sharaa’s visit to London comes after Britain announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with Syria in July 2025, followed by a visit to Damascus by then British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the first such visit by a British minister in 14 years.
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