May in Gulf to forge new ties for UK

British PM to meet GCC leaders at Bahrain summit

LONDON // British prime minister Theresa May will meet Arabian Gulf leaders in Bahrain this week to discuss security cooperation and trade as she seeks to build new ties for the UK after it leaves the European Union.

Mrs May will attend a dinner with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman tomorrow, and hold meetings with each.

Her office said Mrs May would also discuss the situation in Yemen and Syria, as well as relations with Iran, during her two-day visit for the Gulf Cooperation Council summit.

Mrs May is seeking to boost Britain’s international profile and foster new trade links amid criticism that her government is ill-prepared for negotiations to exit the EU. “There is so much we can do together, whether it is helping one another to prevent terrorist attacks, Gulf investment regenerating cities across the UK or British businesses helping Gulf countries to achieve their long- term vision of reform,” she said.

Several of her ministers will also be in the region in the coming months. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson will attend the Manama dialogue at the end of the week, chancellor Philip Hammond is due to visit the region in the new year and home secretary Amber Rudd will travel to Saudi Arabia in March.

Next year, Britain is scheduled to host the first summit between the UK and the GCC.