Image: Reuters
U.K. PM Keir Starmer begins his first official visit to the Middle East since taking office in July visiting UAE and Saudi Arabia today. Its activities are aimed at the ratification of economic cooperation and development of free trade areas, as well as solving such matters of concern in the region.
Starmer will be meeting the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, before flying to Saudi Arabia to brief Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Here, the UK government sees this visit as a means to strengthen relations with two important roles partners in the Gulf in economic and defense partnership.
In that power, improve trade and innovation
The visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to stepping up discussions on the aspects of the GCC Free Trade Agreement deals with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The current interdependent flow commerce between the UK and the UAE is around £23billion and that with Saudi Arabia officially estimated £17billion.
“The opportunities are enormous in this part,” Starmer said, according to Reuters. These talks will involve ideas on co-operation in research, development, and innovation and development or new economic activities.
Thus, a successful GCC free trade agreement could increase bilateral trade figures by 16% thus creating an additional £8.6 billion annually to underline the UK’s strategic role of the partner in the Gulf.
Threat Level targeting Middle Eastern Stability
Starmer’s agenda also includes the continuous violence in Gaza. Among them are supposed to be an urgent demand of cease fire, freeing of hostages as well as the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The talks will stress Britain’s interest in maintaining stability and order in the area.
This visit came in addition to other recent visits by British trade ministers to the Gulf to underlines the UK’s long-term political priorities; the promotion of the relations with the Middle East within the changing global economic and political map.
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