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| UK-Saudi relations strained by 'support' of Arab spring changes | UK-Saudi relations strained by 'support' of Arab spring changes |
| (25 days later) | |
| Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf states are coming under strain because of mounting nervousness over the changes the Arab spring has brought to the Middle East. | Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf states are coming under strain because of mounting nervousness over the changes the Arab spring has brought to the Middle East. |
| Billions of pounds worth of exports and thousands of jobs could be at risk in rows with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over a British parliamentary investigation and the role of Islamists in a changing political landscape. | Billions of pounds worth of exports and thousands of jobs could be at risk in rows with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over a British parliamentary investigation and the role of Islamists in a changing political landscape. |
| Prime minister David Cameron is expected to tackle the issues at a gala dinner of the Conservative Middle East Council on Wednesday. | Prime minister David Cameron is expected to tackle the issues at a gala dinner of the Conservative Middle East Council on Wednesday. |
| In a report on human rights by the Commons foreign affairs committee (FAC) published on Wednesday, MPs criticise the government for failing to boycott the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain earlier this year because of concerns over abuses in the island state. The MPs express concern that "political and strategic factors" coloured the decision not to list the kingdom alongside other states held responsible for abuses. | In a report on human rights by the Commons foreign affairs committee (FAC) published on Wednesday, MPs criticise the government for failing to boycott the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain earlier this year because of concerns over abuses in the island state. The MPs express concern that "political and strategic factors" coloured the decision not to list the kingdom alongside other states held responsible for abuses. |
| "We find it difficult to discern any consistency of logic behind the government's policy in not taking a public stance on the Bahrain Grand Prix but implementing at least a partial boycott of the 2012 Uefa football championship matches played in Ukraine," the committee said. | "We find it difficult to discern any consistency of logic behind the government's policy in not taking a public stance on the Bahrain Grand Prix but implementing at least a partial boycott of the 2012 Uefa football championship matches played in Ukraine," the committee said. |
| Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which together accounted for £8bn of UK exports in 2011, have voiced criticism of British policy and hinted at reviewing their relations. UK trade with the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is worth over £17bn. | Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which together accounted for £8bn of UK exports in 2011, have voiced criticism of British policy and hinted at reviewing their relations. UK trade with the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is worth over £17bn. |
| On Monday, Saudi officials told the BBC that their country was "insulted" by a separate decision by the Commons committee to investigate UK relations with their country and Bahrain. The Saudi ambassador, Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Al Saud, warned that Riyadh would "not tolerate or accept any foreign interference in the workings" of the GCC, which comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman. | On Monday, Saudi officials told the BBC that their country was "insulted" by a separate decision by the Commons committee to investigate UK relations with their country and Bahrain. The Saudi ambassador, Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Al Saud, warned that Riyadh would "not tolerate or accept any foreign interference in the workings" of the GCC, which comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman. |
| In the UAE, a campaign is under way to boycott British trade on the grounds of alleged support for an opposition group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Victories for the Brotherhood in Egypt and Tunisia and its rising influence elsewhere have jangled nerves all over the Gulf. | In the UAE, a campaign is under way to boycott British trade on the grounds of alleged support for an opposition group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Victories for the Brotherhood in Egypt and Tunisia and its rising influence elsewhere have jangled nerves all over the Gulf. |
| Britain has softened its hostility to Islamist parties and welcomed the new governments in Cairo and Tunis. | Britain has softened its hostility to Islamist parties and welcomed the new governments in Cairo and Tunis. |
| In London on Tuesday, the Foreign Office minister, Alistair Burt, told an Abu Dhabi conference that the UK valued investment opportunities in the UAE but he made no mention of the call for a boycott. | In London on Tuesday, the Foreign Office minister, Alistair Burt, told an Abu Dhabi conference that the UK valued investment opportunities in the UAE but he made no mention of the call for a boycott. |
| In Whitehall, the Saudi statement was seen as "a shot across the bows" to ensure the government takes Saudi concerns seriously. "We are not naive or starry-eyed," said a Foreign Office spokesman. "We are realistic and we will judge people by their actions and not their words." | In Whitehall, the Saudi statement was seen as "a shot across the bows" to ensure the government takes Saudi concerns seriously. "We are not naive or starry-eyed," said a Foreign Office spokesman. "We are realistic and we will judge people by their actions and not their words." |
| Mike Gapes, a member of the FAC, said: "I am very surprised by this prickly Saudi reaction. I don't know whether this is a misunderstanding or there is some other agenda." | Mike Gapes, a member of the FAC, said: "I am very surprised by this prickly Saudi reaction. I don't know whether this is a misunderstanding or there is some other agenda." |
| Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British understanding, said: "The Saudis have come out with all guns blazing, but they are totally overdoing it. Now the FAC report will have to be even more far-reaching than it would otherwise have been. Maybe one or two deals might not go Britain's way and someone will quietly make that known. But I don't think it will go further than that." | Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British understanding, said: "The Saudis have come out with all guns blazing, but they are totally overdoing it. Now the FAC report will have to be even more far-reaching than it would otherwise have been. Maybe one or two deals might not go Britain's way and someone will quietly make that known. But I don't think it will go further than that." |
| On Bahrain, the FAC said it was hard to find any "consistency of logic" in ministers' approach. Bahrain should have been included by the FCO on its list of "countries of concern" in the wake of the "brutal" suppression of anti-government protests last year. Saudi Arabia led a GCC force that intervened to help end them. Low-level unrest has continued since then. | On Bahrain, the FAC said it was hard to find any "consistency of logic" in ministers' approach. Bahrain should have been included by the FCO on its list of "countries of concern" in the wake of the "brutal" suppression of anti-government protests last year. Saudi Arabia led a GCC force that intervened to help end them. Low-level unrest has continued since then. |
| Bahrain complains that it is facing Iranian-backed subversion, while the opposition accuses it of human rights abuses. Britain came under pressure to support calls for a boycott of the Formula One in April amid fears that it could be a catalyst for a renewed crackdown. Cameron refused, arguing "Bahrain is not Syria" and that reforms were under way. | Bahrain complains that it is facing Iranian-backed subversion, while the opposition accuses it of human rights abuses. Britain came under pressure to support calls for a boycott of the Formula One in April amid fears that it could be a catalyst for a renewed crackdown. Cameron refused, arguing "Bahrain is not Syria" and that reforms were under way. |
| Last week the foreign secretary, William Hague, met Bahrain's crown prince, a more reformist figure than other members of the royal family. Hague urged him to implement the recommendations of an internal commission of inquiry. On the same day Bahrain also signed an agreement on military cooperation with the ministry of defence. | Last week the foreign secretary, William Hague, met Bahrain's crown prince, a more reformist figure than other members of the royal family. Hague urged him to implement the recommendations of an internal commission of inquiry. On the same day Bahrain also signed an agreement on military cooperation with the ministry of defence. |
| Trade apart, Britain's relations with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states matter because of their shared hostility to their powerful neighbour Iran, at loggerheads with the international community over its nuclear programme. Bahrain is also home to the US fifth fleet. | Trade apart, Britain's relations with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states matter because of their shared hostility to their powerful neighbour Iran, at loggerheads with the international community over its nuclear programme. Bahrain is also home to the US fifth fleet. |
| The FAC has said its inquiry will look at how the UK balanced its interests in these countries in defence, trade, security, counter-terrorism and human rights. It is expected to be completed next spring. | The FAC has said its inquiry will look at how the UK balanced its interests in these countries in defence, trade, security, counter-terrorism and human rights. It is expected to be completed next spring. |
| Meanwhile, Qatar has announced it is to spend $254m (£157m) rebuilding he Palestinian enclave of Gaza, the biggest injection of reconstruction aid for the area since it was devastated in an Israeli military offensive nearly four years ago. | Meanwhile, Qatar has announced it is to spend $254m (£157m) rebuilding he Palestinian enclave of Gaza, the biggest injection of reconstruction aid for the area since it was devastated in an Israeli military offensive nearly four years ago. |
| The Qatari ambassador Mohammed al-Amadi said that co-operation had been arranged with Israel and Egypt to admit building materials and heavy machinery to Gaza, which is under a partial blockade, and work would begin within three months. | The Qatari ambassador Mohammed al-Amadi said that co-operation had been arranged with Israel and Egypt to admit building materials and heavy machinery to Gaza, which is under a partial blockade, and work would begin within three months. |
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