UK’S May Defends Saudi Ties, MBS Gets Royal Welcome
Local Editor
Prime Minister Theresa May defended Britain's links to security ally Saudi Arabia Wednesday as Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman met Queen Elizabeth for lunch in a high-profile visit that drew protests against the war in Yemen.
A fiery exchange in Parliament between May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn underlined tension in Britain over MBS' trip, which was aimed at building a broader economic partnership between the two countries, but has sparked anger about Riyadh's role in the war in Yemen.
"The link that we have with Saudi Arabia is historic, it is an important one, and it has saved the lives of potentially hundreds of people in this country," May said, alluding to intelligence-sharing on militant suspects.
The debate took place as MBS lunched with Queen Elizabeth, a rare honor usually reserved for heads of state, on the first leg of a trip packed with displays of diplomatic affection designed to help widen long-standing defense ties into a more far-reaching partnership.
May later met Prince Mohammad at her Downing Street office, extending a warm diplomatic welcome to the conservative kingdom's heir apparent and agreeing a 65 billion pound ($90.29 billion) trade and investment target.
Britain is looking for trading partners as it exits the European Union, and energy powerhouse Saudi Arabia needs to convince investors about its domestic reforms.
The meeting set out the mutual trade and investment target, which would include direct investment in Britain and new Saudi public procurement with British companies. This would be spread across sectors including finance, education, health care, renewable energy and defense, May's office said.
Britain is vying to land the stock market listing of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, but no decision is expected this week.
"We would like the Aramco share option to be issued in the UK and we will continue to suggest the City would be the best place for it," Junior Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt told Parliament.
Later this month MBS visits the US, which also wants the lucrative listing, although sources said both countries might miss out.
British officials were privately delighted at the decision by MBS, 32, to choose Britain as the major Western destination on his first foreign trip since becoming heir to the Saudi throne last year.
Business deals are possible with British defense group BAE Systems and European weapons maker MBDA, and initial agreements could be concluded on gas exploration, petrochemicals and other industries, British and Saudi sources said.
The three-day visit includes a second Royal audience - dinner with Prince Charles and Prince William Wednesday and a prestigious visit to May's country residence Thursday.
The prime minister intends to use the private dinner to further press her concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, her spokesman said. Demonstrators gathered outside May's office amid a heavy police presence to protest both countries' roles in Yemen. Britain has licensed 4.6 billion pounds of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia since 2015.
May said all arms sales were strictly regulated, that Saudi Arabia's involvement in the conflict was backed by the UN Security Council and her government supported it.
"The prime minister and crown prince agreed on the importance of full and unfettered humanitarian and commercial access, including through the ports, and that a political solution was ultimately the only way to end the conflict and humanitarian suffering in Yemen," May's statement said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
