Good relations with Saudis ‘in national interest’ – May
THERESA May has insisted it is in the “national interest” to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia despite its controversial record on human rights.
The Prime Minister flew into Riyadh on the second leg of a Middle East visit for talks with Saudi leaders to boost trade and security ties.
She has chosen symbolically to go headscarf-free during the twoday trip to the kingdom despite convention dictating that women cover their hair.
“The May doctrine of foreign policy is that everything we do is in our British national interest,” Mrs May told the BBC. “It is in our British national interest to have good relations around the world so we can trade around the world. That brings jobs and prosperity to the UK.
“It’s also in our national interest to ensure that we are working with others around the world to maintain our safety and security.
“And yes, it is in our national interest to ensure that the values that underpin us as Britons are values that we promote around the world and that’s what we do.”
It is the first time Mrs May has visited as PM. She told reporters of her hopes to inspire oppressed women in the state, whose actions are severely restricted under the system of so-called male guardianship.
Mrs May denied Britain was selling its principles for trade deals despite widespread criticism over UK arms deals with the kingdom.
The Prime Minister has faced repeated calls to suspend the sales following claims of human rights abuses in Yemen under the Saudiled coalition bombing campaign.
Labour called on Mrs May to halt arms exports to the state immediately and urged her to back an independent investigation into alleged war crimes in the conflict. But the PM insisted the UK must engage with the Saudis rather than “snipe from the sidelines”.
Mrs May said: “The important thing for the United Kingdom when we meet people and we want to raise issues of human rights – and that may be in a number of countries around the world – is if we have the relationship with them, then we are able to do that. So, rather than just standing on the sidelines and sniping, it’s important to engage, to talk to people, to talk about our interests and to raise, yes, difficult issues when we feel it’s necessary to do so.”
Asked if the UK was selling its principles cheaply for the sake of trade and arms deals, she replied: “No, we are not doing that. What we are doing is continuing the links that we have had for a long time with countries that are important to us around the world.”
The Saudis back the war-torn country’s internationally recognised government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Britain has continued to allow arms sales, with more than £3.3bn of exports since the bombing began in March 2015. At least 10,000 people have been killed during the war, according to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Tom Brake MP called on the PM to raise the case of 21-year-old Amina Al-Jeffery, from Swansea, who claims her father has kept her locked up against her will in a house in Saudi Arabia for four years. The claims are denied by the dather and the case is due to be heard by the High Court.
Mr Brake said: “This young woman’s solicitor has been unable to gain a visa to visit Amina in Saudi Arabia. This is unacceptable. The Prime Minister needs to raise this case as a matter of urgency. [Amina] must be entitled to proper legal representation.”