David Cameron attempts to woo back Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister forced to personally intervene amid fears the gulf state could withdraw its ambassador
David Cameron has sought to repair damaged relations with Saudi Arabia following fears that Riyadh could withdraw its ambassador from the UK.
He sent a personal message to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud in an effort to calm the situation and is rumoured to be planning a visit to the kingdom, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries soured after the UK cancelled a £5.9m prison contract with the Saudi kingdom earlier this month amid growing human rights concerns.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It was an unexpected move and one which is likely to have far-reaching implications. Saudi Arabia is Britain's biggest market in the Middle East and a key military ally in the region.
The decision to withdraw from the controversial deal followed reports that Karl Andree, a 74-year-old British grandfather, was facing a public flogging for having homemade wine in his car. He has since been released and is expected to return home to his family in Britain this week.
But the diplomatic row rumbles on. Saudi Ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz penned an article in the Daily Telegraph warning of the consequences for the UK if it continued to treat the Saudis with "disrespect".
"It appears that the Saudis believe that they are being treated like a political football and had enough," a Whitehall source has since told the newspaper.
"It was only after the personal intervention of the Prime Minister that the situation has temporarily cooled but the Saudis want assurances."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of Black country artists
In the Spotlight Beyoncé debuted 'Cowboy Carter' at the top of the country charts, shining a spotlight on artists like Shaboozey
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published