UK's Starmer Seeks Stronger UAE Saudi Ties in First Gulf Visit

Photo : AFP

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the Gulf region for the first time since becoming Prime Minister. His trip will begin on Sunday, and he plans to focus on making stronger connections with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The UK government has said these two countries are "very important partners" for the UK in today’s world.

During this visit, Starmer wants to bring more investment to the UK and work closely with the UAE and Saudi Arabia on security and defense matters. He also wants to discuss how both countries can work together on new ideas and future projects. Starmer said the Gulf region has a lot of potential, and he hopes to secure funds to help improve the UK’s old infrastructure and support the move towards clean and renewable energy.

Starmer will first travel to the UAE, where he is scheduled to meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday. Later that day, he will fly to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During these meetings, Starmer will also talk about peace and stability in the Middle East. He will push for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, call for the release of hostages, and emphasize the need to send aid quickly to the people in Gaza.

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The UK already has a strong trading relationship with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Trade between the UK and the UAE is worth £23 billion ($29.3 billion), while trade with Saudi Arabia is estimated at £17 billion. These countries are also big investors in the UK, helping its economy in areas like technology, energy, and infrastructure. Starmer wants to make these partnerships even stronger.

The UK is also trying to make a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This council includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The UK government believes that such a deal could increase trade by 16% and bring £8.6 billion more to the UK every year. British ministers already visited the Gulf in September to work on this deal, and Starmer’s visit will add to these efforts.

Recently, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, visited the UK and met with King Charles and Starmer. Both countries promised to strengthen their investments and work together even more closely.

After visiting the Gulf, Starmer will travel to Cyprus on Tuesday. There, he will meet President Nikos Christodoulides. This will be the first time a British Prime Minister has visited Cyprus in over 50 years. Starmer and Christodoulides will discuss ways to solve shared security problems in the region and how the two countries can cooperate more.

Starmer’s trip shows the UK’s commitment to building strong relationships with the Gulf countries. He wants to create better economic and security partnerships and work together on important global issues. By strengthening these ties, Starmer aims to support the UK’s future while helping its partners in the Gulf region.