Today (7 June 2021), British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met with HRH Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, HRH Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and others in the Saudi Government.
Foreign Secretary Raab set out the UK's ambition for a closer partnership with Saudi Arabia based on a commitment to trade and regional security. Talks also focussed on the UK's ambition in tackling global issues, including climate change, in the lead up to the COP26 climate conference.
The Foreign Secretary raised human rights concerns, notably around justice reform and freedom of media expression.
Foreign Secretary Raab said:
Saudi Arabia is a long-standing partner and close friend of the UK, playing a pivotal role in regional stability.
The UK reaffirms our commitment to tackling our shared security challenges, including Iranian threats and the continued conflict in Yemen.
We also used this opportunity to look to the future, including building our economies back better from COVID-19, our work to tackle climate change ahead of COP 26, and ensuring girls across the world have access to 12 years of quality education.
