Foreign Secretary travels to Riyadh to discuss Yemen response
The UK is committed to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, security and regional stability, and ways of combating the threat posed by climate change.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia will continue to work together to tackle global challenges and help to resolve the devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ahead of his first official visit to the country.
Mr Raab will hold talks with the leadership of Saudi Arabia and senior government counterparts including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Dr Musaad Al Aiyban, in Riyadh on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March.
They will discuss our commitment to resolving the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, security and regional stability, and ways of combating the threat posed by climate change.
He will also hold talks with Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Hadi during his visit.
The Foreign Secretary will continue to drive progress on the Yemen peace process, following the recent surge in Houthi violence and constraints on getting humanitarian aid to those in need.
The Foreign Secretary will also raise issues where we have differences, including on human rights and values.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:
Saudi Arabia is one of our closest trade partners and plays an important role in keeping Britain safe.
As a valued partner, we have to work closely together to tackle the crisis in Yemen, terrorism and climate change as well as pursuing reform and engaging on human rights issues.
The visit is also an opportunity to cooperate on an ambitious climate agenda ahead of climate summit COP 26 and during Saudi’s Presidency of the G20 this year. It comes as the UK steps up its efforts to tackle combat climate change, diversify our economy and protect the planet.
During his two-day trip to the country, the Foreign Secretary will also be shown around Diriyah, the historic capital of the first Saudi state which has been transformed into a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of a restoration project involving British companies and expertise.
Earlier this week, the Foreign Secretary was in Oman, where he held bilateral talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Omani Foreign Minister His Excellency Yusuf bin Alawi.
He then travelled to Turkey, where he held talks with his counterpart Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and reiterated the UK’s staunch support for Turkey’s efforts to negotiate an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Syria.
Further information
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