PM defends ties between two countries and says he will be able to raise concerns about Saudi government’s human rights record
Speaking during a visit to Riyadh, where he met the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the prime minister said his “sole intention” there was to help drive up living standards in the UK.
Earlier on Monday, Downing Street said Starmer would still be able to raise concerns about the Saudi government’s human rights record. When Boris Johnson met the Saudi crown prince in 2022, Starmer accused him of “going cap in hand from dictator to dictator”. Asked about these comments, the spokesperson said: “This is about driving growth and building a network of partners across the world who will invest in the UK.”
The prime minister held a round table with Saudi businesses and senior Saudi ministers including the commerce minister, Majid al-Kassabi. Speaking at the start of the meeting in Diriyah, near Riyadh, Starmer praised the UK-Saudi relationship, which he said was built on “the values of trust and friendship”.
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