In a bid to boost economic and security relations, foreign secretary Liz Truss has travelled to the Gulf states this week.
Truss has said that securing closer economic and technological ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar is a priority to help generate further jobs and opportunities back in the UK, and foster further collaboration on issues around intelligence sharing, development, security and defence.
Wednesday saw the Conservative minister meet His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s foreign affairs minister, to discuss closer cooperation on regional security, human rights, development and counter terrorism. Also, on the agenda were how the UK and Saudi Arabia can build a closer economic relationship as the Middle Eastern kingdom seeks to diversify its economy.
Truss later travelled to Qatar to meet with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Truss’ talks with the Qataris included discussions around cooperation on security in the Middle East and on Afghanistan. She also visited the Park View Compound during her trip, a facility which has been housing Afghan refugees since the Taliban reclaimed power in the country.
Qatar has played a key role in helping people safely leave Afghanistan since late August, when the UK’s own evacuation plan ended. Doha’s intervention has enabled safe departure for more than 100 British nationals since then, with the latest flight into the Qatari capital carrying 17 UK citizens.
Truss also used her visit to open a strategic dialogue with Qatar, which formed the basis for greater cooperation on security, development, trade and investment between both nations.
She said: “Closer security and economic ties with Gulf allies will help us deliver jobs and opportunities for people back in the UK and ensure as friends and partners that we are operating from a position of strength in the world.
“I want a closer trading and investment relationship with the Gulf and for us to collaborate more closely on issues like intelligence sharing, development, security and defence.”
The UK has already started discussions on a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Saudi Arabia and Qatar are members.
Trade with the Council is worth more than £30 billion currently, with a free trade deal set to increase that by generating fresh opportunities for UK exporters and closer investment links.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Asia minister Amanda Milling has hit out at North Korea after its recent test of a short-range submarine launched ballistic missile.
"We condemn North Korea’s latest testing of a short-range ballistic missile on 19 October in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions," Milling said.
"The UK remains committed to the goal of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. We commend the diplomatic efforts of the US and regional partners, with whom we work closely, to seek peace on the Korean Peninsula and preserve regional stability.
"We urge North Korea to return to dialogue and to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."
Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commons
