UK plans to boost security co-operation and arms sales with Saudi Arabia
The UK wants to boost security relations and arms exports with Saudi Arabia, British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said.
He told the kingdom’s deputy defence minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, that he appreciated the role Saudi Arabia played in confronting threats to stability in the region and protecting sea lanes, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said.
On Tuesday, the UK said it could begin to export arms to the kingdom after complying with a court order governing the decision-making process in the sale of weapons.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest buyer of British arms.
Last year, the UK said it would not grant new licences for export to Saudi Arabia while the government considered a ruling from the Court of Appeal in London regarding weapons sales.
The ruling did not prevent Britain from exporting weapons under existing licences.
UK Trade Minister Liz Truss said the government re-took its decisions and could resume issuing licences.
“The government will now begin the process of clearing the backlog of licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners that has built up since 20 June last year,” she said.