LONDON: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in the UK Tuesday on a landmark trip with a broad agenda spanning business, defense and political ties.
During the three-day visit, Crown Prince Mohammed is expected to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, the Queen (full gallery here) and other members of the British royal family.
His arrival in Britain has been highly anticipated, with extensive media coverage of relations between the two countries in the build-up.
Billboards highlighting the visit have been erected in parts of London and along major highways into the capital.
One shows the flags of the two countries with “United Kingdoms” written across the top. Another shows Crown Prince Mohammed with the slogan “He is bringing change to Saudi Arabia.”
Crown Prince Mohammed said the two countries enjoyed historic ties that dated back more than 100 years to the foundation of the Kingdom.
“We have a common interest that goes back to the earliest days of the relationship,” he said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper published yesterday. “Our relationship with Britain today is super,” he said.
Events scheduled for the visit include a forum on business partnerships between the two countries and a discussion meeting at Chatham House.
Business relations are expected to be a key feature of the visit.
Saudi Arabia is the UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East with the flow of goods and services between the two countries in 2016 worth more than £8 billion, according to the Financial Times.
Britain could be a major beneficiary of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic plan to diversify the economy away from oil, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said.
“After Brexit, there will be huge opportunities for Britain as a result of Vision 2030,” he told the BBC.
The British prime minister has welcomed the visit as a chance to strengthen relations.
“The partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia already helps make both our countries safer through intelligence-sharing which has saved British lives, and more prosperous, with thousands of jobs created in the UK and substantial opportunities for British companies in Saudi Arabia,” the PM’s office said.
Saudi crown prince begins landmark UK visit
Saudi crown prince begins landmark UK visit
Saudi Cabinet hopes UAE forces will withdraw within 24 hours in accordance with Yemeni request
- Cabinet said it hoped the UAE will cease any military or financial support to the STC and any other party within Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Tuesday expressed hope that Emirati forces will withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours in accordance with a Yemeni request, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Cabinet also said it hoped the UAE will cease any military or financial support to the Southern Transitional Council and any other party within Yemen, SPA added.
The Cabinet said it also hoped that the UAE will take the necessary steps to preserve Saudi-Emirati relations which the Kingdom is keen to strengthen, and said it looks forward to working together toward everything that will enhance the prosperity and stability of countries of the region.
The Cabinet expressed its regret over the outcome of de-escalation efforts that the Kingdom has been keen to pursue, which have been met with an unjustified escalation that contradicts the principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen was founded, undermines its efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen, and is inconsistent with all the promises the Kingdom received from the UAE.
The Cabinet appreciates the role of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen in protecting civilians in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra in response to the request of the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, and in reducing escalation in order to achieve security and stability and preventing the expansion of the conflict.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the Kingdom will not hesitate to take necessary steps and measures to confront any infringement or threat to its national security, and its commitment to the security, stability and sovereignty of Yemen, and its full support for Al-Alimi and his government.
In other regional affairs, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of Somalia, and rejects the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland as it enshrines unilateral separatist measures that violate international law.
