BICOM

Britain’s Prime Minister departed for the Middle East yesterday in what is expected to be a trip focused on security and post-Brexit trade efforts.

Prime Minister Theresa May landed in Amman, Jordan, yesterday to begin her three-day tour of the region, which includes a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

Before leaving Britain, May told reporters: “It is clearly in the UK’s security and prosperity interests to support Jordan and Saudi Arabia in tackling regional challenges to create a more stable region, and in delivering their ambitious reform programmes to ensure their own stability.”

She added: “Jordan is on the frontline of multiple regional crises and I’m clear that by working with them, we are helping keep British people safe.”

It is expected that May will set out a package of measures to boost cooperation between British forces and the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), which along with Britain is part of the US-led coalition bombing ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

According to Downing Street, the UK will also commit to partnering with Jordan in the development and implementation of strategies to counter violent extremism, including active consultation with civil society and affected communities, particularly focusing on youth groups.

Israel sees Jordan, with whom it signed a peace agreement with in 1994, as a key regional ally. The Israeli government cooperates with the Hashemite Kingdom in defence and sells natural gas to the country.

Today, Prime Minister May will visits Saudi Arabia to boost trade between the two countries and is expected to step up cooperation on counter-terrorism.

Before leaving Britain, May spoke of the vital intelligence cooperation between the UK and Saudi Arabia: “We must never forget that intelligence we have received in the past from that country has saved potentially hundreds of lives in the UK.”

Israel’s ties with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia have been improving but are still below the radar due to lack of progress in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

However, over the last two years, senior Saudi figures have participated in public panels with Israeli counterparts, led by former Saudi intelligence chief and diplomat Prince Turki al-Faisal and retired General Anwer Eshki, who in 2016 led a group of Saudis in an unprecedented visit to Jerusalem where they held a meeting with Israeli officials and Knesset members.