\n A source at the UK Home Office said negotiations are underway with the Syrian government for assistance\u00a0in implementing the UK government’s plan to accelerate the return of Syrians who do not have permanent residency rights in Britain. [Getty]<\/p>\n
The New Arab learned that Britain and Syria are moving closer to concluding a comprehensive bilateral agreement on the return of Syrian migrants<\/a> to Syria and the prevention of “irregular” Syrian migration to Britain, following the first visit by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Britain.<\/p>\n UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told al-Sharaa during their meeting on 31 March that he had a vision for ways to “achieve his hope of making further progress on migration, including strengthening cooperation in returns<\/a>“, referring to the return of Syrians who were forced to migrate to Britain after fleeing<\/a> the war in Syria.<\/p>\n A source at the UK Home Office<\/a> said negotiations are underway with the Syrian government for assistance\u00a0in implementing the UK government’s plan to accelerate the return <\/a>of Syrians who do not have permanent residency rights in Britain.<\/p>\n The source, who requested anonymity, said, “It is not currently possible to set a timeframe for reaching an agreement.”<\/p>\n The UK government hopes to reach an agreement with Syria on a deal similar to the one signed with the Iraqi government in August last year.<\/p>\n Under that agreement, both sides adopted formal procedures to speed up the return of individuals without legal rights to permanent residence in the United Kingdom<\/a>.<\/p>\n The agreement also aimed to activate Iraqi support in preventing small boats carrying irregular migrants from reaching British shores, as well as supporting programmes for the reintegration of returnees.<\/p>\n UK Home Office estimates indicate that, as a result of bilateral cooperation, the number of Iraqi nationals arriving in Britain via small boats fell significantly, from 2,600 in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025.<\/p>\n The source said Britain is conducting “active negotiations” with North African countries, particularly Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, to reach a similar agreement to stop irregular migration by boat.<\/p>\n