After accusing the Saudis of fighting proxy wars, Boris Johnson hopes to ‘expand ties’

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has affirmed the strength of ties between Saudi Arabia and Britain during his visit to the kingdom just days after accusing the government of “puppeteering” in its waging of “proxy wars”, and “misusing Islam”. Downing Street distanced itself from his comments, confirming that he was not expressing government policy.

Johnson met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Naif, the deputy premier and minister of the interior, in separate meetings. He also attended a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

British and Saudi officials discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various areas, especially security and fighting extremism and terrorism. This was the first meeting between Saudi leaders and Boris Johnson since he made his ill-advised remarks.

“I’m here to emphasise the friendship that exists between the UK and Saudi Arabia,” said the foreign secretary, “and that is something that is developing and expanding.”

Minister Al-Jubeir tried his best to deflect attention from his British counterpart’s earlier comments. “The remarks attributed by the media to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during a recent conference in Rome were misconstrued,” he insisted. He stressed that Britain and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed a long, strategic relationship extending over 100 years. “We don’t have any doubt about where Britain stands, and Britain has no doubt where we stand. I believe that the matter is closed.”

Al-Jubeir and Johnson discussed a number of important issues of mutual concern regionally and internationally, including the war in Yemen; Britain has been supplying arms to the kingdom which are alleged to have been used in war crimes. The two foreign ministers agreed to enhance relations between London and Riyadh even further.