The Middle East minister travels to the Gulf for talks on regional security

• Wimbledon’s Lord (Tariq) Ahmad arrives in Bahrain today (Sunday April 21) before traveling to the UAE.
• The minister will visit the British Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, where the UK has supported operations against illegal and dangerous Iran-backed Houthi attacks on international ships.
• During his visit, he is expected to meet with counterparts to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza, regional security and the Red Sea.

The UK Secretary of State for the Middle East arrived in the Gulf region today (Sunday 21 April) for discussions on maintaining regional security and the UK’s commitment to tackling the dangerous threat posed by Iran-backed proxies and partners to affirm.

During his first stop in Bahrain, Lord Ahmad will visit the UK Maritime Component Command at the Naval Support Facility, from where the UK supports Operation Prosperity Guardian and Operation Poseidon Archer alongside international partners.

The aim of the operations was to deter Houthi aggression and protect international shipping from the Houthi’s reckless and indiscriminate attacks on commercial and military vessels, including the United Kingdom’s contributions to the international task force through the Royal Navy ships, HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond.

In meetings with Bahrain’s National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, Lord Ahmad will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza and reiterate the UK’s efforts to bring about an immediate cessation of fighting in order to get more life-saving aid to Gaza more quickly and as quickly as possible many routes.

The minister will then travel to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to hold further discussions on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, including humanitarian assistance from the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and continue to advocate for a de-escalation of regional tensions becomes. and efforts to support the peace process in Sudan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, said:

During this critical period, we must do everything we can – including working with key partners – to strengthen regional stability and security and push for de-escalation.

The United Kingdom, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are close partners and play a crucial role in the region. I look forward to discussing our ongoing efforts to alleviate the terrible humanitarian suffering in Gaza by providing more assistance through as many routes as possible to free hostages.

We must also work closely together to address the threat posed by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and to make progress toward peace and security in the Middle East, most importantly including an irreversible path to implementing a two-state solution Israel and Palestine must ensure .