How Starmer Described Saudi Arabia as 'Steadfast Ally' in Talks with Mohammed bin Salman
Keir Starmer met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, yesterday. Unlike some leaders, MBS (as he is sometimes called) does not hold press conferences. However, No 10 released a readout of the discussions afterwards. It states that Starmer described Saudi Arabia as a “steadfast ally.”
For the record, here is the full readout. A No 10 spokesperson said:
The prime minister began by welcoming the ceasefire and set out how efforts must now be focused on upholding it and turning it into a lasting peace.
He was clear that it was vital now to continue work to reopen the strait of Hormuz, and discussed the UK’s ongoing efforts to convene partners to agree and plan the practical steps required to give shipping the confidence to transit the strait.
Reflecting on the defensive operations which have taken place in the region since the conflict began, the prime minister thanked His Royal Highness for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect British nationals in the country.
The prime minister committed to continue to support Saudi Arabia as a steadfast ally including through the recent deployment of the Sky Sabre air defence system, having met UK personnel deployed to operate it earlier today.
The leaders then discussed how the UK and Saudi Arabia could further deepen their defence industrial cooperation to boost capability and mutual security for the long term, as well as continuing to grow their thriving trade and investment relationship.
The prime minister said he was pleased that the UK and Saudi Arabia would soon be marking 100 years of friendship under the Treaty of Jeddah and they looked forward to speaking again soon.
Cooper Expresses Concern Over Israel’s Escalating Attacks in Lebanon
Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, spoke to this morning expressing her deep concern about Israel’s ongoing air strikes in Lebanon. She stated:
I’m deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday. We’ve seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon.
Iran Cannot ‘Hijack’ Strait of Hormuz with Shipping Tolls, Says Yvette Cooper
Good morning. Keir Starmer remains in the Gulf region, while Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, has been conducting a series of interviews ahead of delivering a speech on foreign policy this evening.
As reported by Jamie Grierson, Cooper has been strongly advocating for the inclusion of the strait of Hormuz in the US-Iran ceasefire discussions.
Cooper is also addressing concerns that Iran might be permitted to continue charging a $2 million toll per ship for oil tankers passing through the strait as part of a permanent agreement. Alarmingly, former US President Donald Trump has even suggested that the US could be involved in this arrangement.
In an interview on the Today programme, Cooper made it clear that the UK would find any toll on passage through the strait unacceptable.
The starting point here is this is an international transit route. It’s international shipping that uses this. This is part of the international law of the sea. This is a a route between the high seas; it is a trading route.
When challenged with Iran’s position that these waters are territorial rather than international, Cooper responded:
As part of the international maritime law, this is a transit route between the high seas.
And whether you talk about Dover or Gibraltar or other straits around the world, there may be territorial waters there, but there’s also an international shipping route and an international transit route, which means that freedom of navigation principles apply and that countries cannot simply hijack those kinds of international transit routes and unilaterally apply tolls. They cannot do that as part of the laws of the sea and the United Nations conventions.
Cooper emphasized that safeguarding freedom of navigation through the strait is “crucial for the global economy.”
I will post more from her interviews soon.
Agenda for the Day
Morning: Keir Starmer is in the United Arab Emirates where he is expected to hold talks with the president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Later in the day, he has another bilateral meeting planned and will record an interview with ITV’s Robert Peston.
10.30am: The Green Party leader launches the party’s local elections campaign at an event in London.
11am: Rhun ap Iorwerth, the Plaid Cymru leader, launches his party’s manifesto for the Senedd election at an event in Wrexham.
Morning: Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, is conducting a campaign visit in Greater Manchester.
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