The Foreign Secretary James Cleverley will today call out Iran
and Russia as threats to the security of the Middle East in a
speech at an international security conference.
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain,
he will commit to working with partners in the region to ensure
Iran never develops a nuclear weapon and highlight the impact of
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on food security across the
region.
He will also highlight opportunities for cooperation on Gulf
states’ transition to green energy and look forward to greater
trade between the Gulf and the UK following the conclusion of
talks on a new Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Co-operation
Council, expected next year.
On the threat posed by Iran, the Foreign Secretary is expected to
say:
Iranian-supplied weapons threaten the entire region. Today Iran’s
nuclear programme is more advanced than ever before, and the
regime has resorted to selling Russia the armed drones that are
killing civilians in Ukraine.
As their people demonstrate against decades of oppression, Iran’s
rulers are spreading bloodshed and destruction as far away as
Kyiv.
Britain is determined to work alongside our friends to counter
the Iranian threat, interdict the smuggling of conventional arms,
and prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapons
capability.
On Putin’s war in Ukraine, the Foreign Secretary is expected to
say:
Putin’s onslaught against Ukraine amounts to a flagrant breach of
those principles [sovereignty and territorial integrity]. No
country is immune from the turmoil he has brought to world energy
markets or the damage he has caused to global food security.
Putin’s war is inflicting yet more suffering on Syrians and
Yemenis, who were already enduring the privations of humanitarian
emergency, and ordinary Lebanese, caught up in economic crisis.
The Foreign Secretary will hold bilateral meetings with a range
of international counterparts at the Dialogue and take part in
panel events on key issues facing the Middle East, including
maritime security and conflict resolution.
Following the Manama Dialogue, the Foreign Secretary will be
travelling to Qatar. He is planning to meet with UK police
representatives who are in-country supporting British fans to
enjoy a safe and enjoyable trip, to understand more about their
plans for the tournament.
While there, he will also speak at an event on global food
security, hold bilateral meetings with key partners and visit UK
Armed Forces stationed in Qatar, alongside attending the opening
ceremony of the World Cup and the first England game.
