UK MENA minister lands in Bahrain

British Minister for Middle East and North Africa Tobias Ellwood landed in Bahrain yesterday to accompany UK Prime Minster Theresa May to observe this year’s GCC Summit.

The ministers of foreign affairs of the GCC states held a meeting with Ellwood in the Bahraini capital Manama yesterday in preparation for the upcoming meeting between the GCC leaders and May.

In his speech, Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, took pride in the longstanding historical relations between GCC countries and the UK. He reiterated that the bilateral ties between the UK and the GCC have always been characterised by mutual respect and trust and that there are strong core values that the GCC and the UK share.

Ellwood then proceeded to praise the GCC states for the progress in the domestic reforms they have made. He also said that May is excited to meet the GCC leaders in order to develop strategic partnerships.

May departed the UK yesterday to attend the GCC Summit, in a bid to strengthen ties with member states following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. However, she has received intense criticisms within the UK for her endorsement of regimes with low human rights records.