Foreign Secretary returns to Middle East to support efforts towards regional stability
Foreign Secretary David Cameron will focus on de-escalating tensions in the region and securing an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron meets the Foreign Minister of Oman Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi.
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Lord David Cameron will make his fourth visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary, starting in Oman
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he will call for stability over ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza
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visit follows the Foreign Secretary’s call for an international ‘Contact Group’ to build momentum towards lasting peace in the region
The Foreign Secretary will be back in the Middle East this week focusing on the de-escalating of tensions in the region and securing an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza.
He travels to Oman on Tuesday (30 January) for the first leg of the visit. This follows regional travel last week where he met with leaders in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Qatar and Turkey.
The Houthi attacks on international shipping, which are harming regional security and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, will be a major focus of his discussions.
Last week, the UK set out new sanctions with the US against key figures within the Houthi regime’s military to disrupt their ability to carry out attacks in the Red Sea. Alongside our partners, we have issued repeated warnings through diplomatic channels to Iran and Houthi leadership to cease their attacks, and we have taken action to deter the Houthis, most recently when HMS Diamond successfully repelled a drone attack in the Red Sea on 28 January.
The Foreign Secretary will also reiterate with regional leaders the UK’s call for an immediate pause in the conflict in Gaza to allow significantly more aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable ceasefire.
The visit will be an opportunity to move forward the Foreign Secretary’s work to establish a Contact Group to be established between the US, UK, key EU, Gulf and Arab countries and Turkey, to use a pause in fighting to build momentum towards a lasting solution.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:
The Houthis continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, risking lives, delaying vital aid getting to the Yemeni people and disrupting global trade. And we cannot ignore the risk that the conflict in Gaza spreads, spilling over borders into other countries in the region.
We will do everything we can to make sure that does not happen – escalation and instability is in nobody’s interests.
In Gaza, there is an urgent need for an immediate pause to allow aid in and hostages out. We are determined to do all we can to press for a sustainable ceasefire, and are stepping up our engagement with countries in the region to make sure that happens.
The Foreign Secretary will reiterate the UK’s commitment to getting life-saving aid into Yemen, and outline the action the UK is taking to deter the Houthis targeting ships in the Red Sea.
In Oman the Foreign Secretary is expected to meet Omani Foreign Minister Badr to discuss de-escalating rising tensions across the region.
Find out more about the UK government’s response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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