Syria without Bashar al-Assad is a positive but also uncertain development for London. The British Prime Minister’s Office insists that London’s position on developments in Syria is clear. On the other hand, contradictory statements by cabinet members over the past weeks indicate confusion. Britain’s confusion about Syria is about how to interact with the current that has seized power. This article examines UK relations with Syria after Assad.
Starmer’s doubts about UK relations with Syria after Assad
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says that the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government is a crucial and decisive moment for Syria. He says there is no guarantee that UK relations with Syria after Assad will improve. Britain recalled its ambassador from Damascus in 2012, Simon Collis, and ended diplomatic relations with the Assad government. Relations between the two sides have gone through a period of tension since then.
UK’s uncertainty about the future of Syria
UK relations with Syria after Assad are in a state of uncertainty. The UK is not sure that Syria will be on the record after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Starmer said in the House of Commons: “We have all seen in other parts of history where we think there is a turning point – it turns out not necessarily to be the better future that we hope for. We’ve got to make sure this is different.” A spokesman for the British Prime Minister said in a briefing with reporters, referring to the G7 summit, that the British Prime Minister warned of the need to exercise caution regarding the future of Syria. He said: “Discussing the unfolding situation in Syria, the Prime Minister said that the fall of Assad’s brutal regime should be welcomed, but we must be cautious about what comes next.”
Differences in British Officials’ Opinions on Development in Syria
Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, believe that the West’s delay in military action against Syria in 2013 led to the prolongation of Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Wes Streeting claimed in a television interview that British and American hesitation created a vacuum in Syria. In this way, Russia stepped in and kept Assad in power for a more extended period. Ed Miliband, on the other hand, says he has no regrets about opposing the British government’s military intervention in Syria. He is the Secretary of State for Energy Security. Miliband also led the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015. He said: “I believe after what happened in Iraq, where hundreds of British troops died and thousands were injured, we could not commit British military forces without a clear plan.”
Possibility of removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from the list of terrorist groups
In light of concerns about the threat of terrorism, London security officials are not reluctant to temporarily remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the list of terrorist organizations. They are concerned that the developments in Syria will increase the threat of terrorism in Britain. Lord Carlile, a former adviser to the British government on terrorism laws, said that the government should increase the security services budget if the threat from terrorism increases. He also said that such a move would allow London officials to talk to those who have taken over the affairs of Damascus.
Britain’s doubts about removing HTS from the list of terrorist groups
British officials are currently hesitant about removing HTS from the list of terrorist organizations. A group of politicians want to resume engagement with Damascus. They are calling for this relationship with a security perspective on the consequences of the developments in Syria. Another group, however, takes a more conservative approach to the issue. HTS is recognized as an offshoot of al-Qaeda, a terrorist group, so interacting with this group is considered a crime. The Prime Minister says that it is still too early to remove the group from the list of terrorist organizations.
Officials fear terrorist incidents in the UK.
The fall of the Assad government in Syria has increased the possibility of the release of elements affiliated with terrorist groups. The release of terrorists from prison, including British ISIS members, has alarmed London security officials. According to estimates, about 900 Britons went to Syria to join ISIS, half of them returned, hundreds were killed, and about 10 to 15 people are now locked up behind bars in prisons in northern Syria. These prisons are now in the hands of the militant group known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This group is under severe pressure from the Syrian opposition that has taken control of affairs in Damascus. The closure of prisons and the return of these people to England has become a nightmare for London security officials.
The migration crisis in the UK after the fall of Bashar al-Assad
In London, British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, in line with other European countries, has suspended the granting of asylum to Syrian citizens. She said that the situation in Syria is changing rapidly following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, and many Syrian citizens are returning to the country. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy also warned in the House of Commons that the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria could cause a migration crisis across Europe.
Confusion in British foreign policy
Officials in London are hesitant about how to interact with the Syrian opposition. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which succeeded in overthrowing the Assad government, is recognized as an al-Qaeda branch and a terrorist group. The PM says it is too early to decide whether to remove the group from the list of terrorist organizations. Still, his cabinet minister Pat McFadden emphasized the need for a quick decision in an interview.
Damage to British national interests following the Starmer government’s confusion on Syria
The Starmer government is in a state of uncertainty regarding UK relations with Syria after Assad. They have not yet decided on removing the current leaders of Syria from the list of terrorist groups. This confusion shows that the Starmer government still lacks a strategy for UK relations with Syria after Assad. Starmer fears a security crisis following the return of British ISIS fighters from Syria. The British government is also worried that they will face a growing exodus of Syrians from the UK. The British government’s hesitation about how to deal with developments in Syria has sparked protests from the opposition. They believe that the British government should have a comprehensive and transparent policy towards Syria. Confusion in British foreign policy regarding developments in Syria could harm British national interests.
