The Minister for the Middle East will embark on a tour of the
Middle East as the UK seeks to build momentum towards a
sustainable, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and lasting stability
and security in the region.
Lord Ahmad will arrive in Oman today (Monday) for the first leg
of the visit before travelling to Kuwait and then concluding the
visit in Saudi Arabia.
The Minister is expected to meet with key figures, including
Saudi Arabia’s Vice Foreign Minister, the Secretary General of
the Muslim World League as well as Kuwait’s Foreign Minister
Ambassador Abdullah Al-Yahya and Oman’s Undersecretary for
Political Affairs Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy.
The Minister will discuss how to ease the desperate humanitarian
situation in Gaza, including through an immediate humanitarian
pause in fighting leading to a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.
He will also outline the UK’s efforts to counter Houthi attacks
on international shipping in the Red Sea and make clear that
illegal attacks by the Houthis are completely unacceptable.
, Minister of State
for Middle East, said:
We want to see an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as
possible, and it is clear that wider escalation and instability
in the region is in nobody’s interests.
Our engagement with partners in the Middle East, including Oman,
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, is absolutely central to efforts towards
achieving a sustainable, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and building
wider regional security.
The 16th session of the UK-Oman Joint Working Group will be
co-chaired by Lord Ahmad alongside Oman’s Undersecretary for
Political Affairs Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, Lord Ahmad will co-chair the twentieth
UK-Kuwait Joint Steering Group alongside His Excellency Sheikh
Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Lord Ahmad is also due to meet with the Palestinian
Ambassador.
In Saudi Arabia, Lord Ahmad will meet with the Vice Foreign
Minister and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
This visit is the latest in a series of visits to the region by
the Minister, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over
the last fortnight. The Foreign Secretary has recently visited
the region multiple times, including Oman and Saudi Arabia to
build on the UK’s call for an immediate pause to get aid in and
hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent
ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of
life.
The Minister will also welcome the UK’s Electronic Travel
Authorisation (ETA) scheme which has opened for Gulf Cooperation
Council and Jordanian nationals, making travel to the UK smoother
and cheaper. The scheme will allow unlimited visits to the UK
over two years.
