Chemical weapons use in Syria has been a central international security concern for more than a decade, repeatedly addressed by the United Nations Security Council and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
At the United Nations, the United Kingdom has welcomed a commitment by Syria’s leadership to eradicate remaining chemical weapons and comply with international disarmament obligations.
The UK Government has told the UN Security Council it welcomes Syria’s stated commitment to eliminate all remaining chemical weapons, following a year of cooperation between Syrian authorities and the OPCW. The statement, delivered by the UK’s Deputy Political Coordinator, set out progress made during 2025 and called for continued international support to complete the elimination process.
Introduction
The statement was delivered on 8 January 2026 at a UN Security Council meeting on Syria by Caroline Quinn, the UK’s Deputy Political Coordinator. It marked one year since the fall of the Assad regime and reviewed developments since Syria renewed engagement with international disarmament bodies.
The UK said recent cooperation between Syria and the OPCW has provided a basis for addressing undeclared elements of the former chemical weapons programme, while emphasising that further work remains.
UK position at the United Nations
The UK said Syria’s leadership has expressed a clear commitment to comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention and to meet its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The statement described this as an opportunity to resolve a file that has dominated international discussion on Syria for more than ten years.
The UK also commended the professionalism of OPCW technical staff working in Syria under challenging conditions and highlighted progress made through joint efforts during 2025.
- Support for full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention
- Recognition of OPCW verification and inspection work
International Framework
| Treaty obligations | Syria is required to eliminate chemical weapons and cooperate fully with international verification bodies. |
| UN oversight | The Security Council continues to review progress through regular reporting. |
Progress reported during 2025
The UK highlighted steps taken during 2025 to improve understanding of the scale and scope of the former chemical weapons programme. Multiple OPCW deployments were said to have increased clarity on undeclared activities linked to the Assad era.
Decisions adopted by OPCW member states in October and November were described as enabling faster action on destruction while supporting Syria’s re-engagement with the organisation.
- Expanded OPCW deployments inside Syria
- New mechanisms to address discovered materials
Recent Developments
| OPCW presence | A continuous technical presence has been established in Syria. |
| Representation | A new Syrian Permanent Representative has been appointed to the OPCW. |
International support and next steps
The UK said sustained financial and technical support from the international community will be necessary to complete the elimination of remaining chemical weapons. It confirmed that the UK has contributed more than $3.8 million since December 2024 to support OPCW missions in Syria.
Council members and other states were urged to assist the OPCW’s work, with the UK stressing that continued progress depends on cooperation and adequate resources.
Ministerial Comments
Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator said;
“With clear commitment from Syria’s leadership to eradicate chemical weapons and to seek accountability for their use, we hope to see continued progress in 2026 to deliver these important outcomes for the Syrian people.”
The Takeaway
The UK said it hopes cooperation between Syria and the OPCW will accelerate during 2026, building on progress made over the past year. It emphasised the need for continued scrutiny by the UN Security Council and sustained international backing. The elimination of chemical weapons was described as essential for regional stability and for addressing the long-standing legacy of their use in Syria.
Sources: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
