British Prime Minister Keir Starmer kicked off his Gulf tour on Wednesday with a stop in Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates for high-level talks with regional leaders. The Gulf visit aims to help secure the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following the recent US–Iran ceasefire.
Through a series of diplomatic meetings, Starmer is working to reinforce and sustain the fragile truce, pushing for a lasting resolution that would safeguard both the UK and the global economy from further instability.
A Speech Focused on Security and Stability
Speaking at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed British and Saudi personnel, highlighting the UK’s role in coordinating international efforts to safeguard global energy routes.
He noted that Britain had been instrumental in “convening a number of countries” to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an essential passage for global energy supplies. According to Starmer, the reopening has already helped stabilize energy flows and prices back in the UK.
However, he stressed that the situation remains fragile, adding that there is still “work to do” to turn the temporary ceasefire into a lasting peace.
There’s a lot of work to do to make sure that the ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see.
A Strategic Sit-Down in Jeddah
In Jeddah, Starmer was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two leaders held high-level talks on bilateral relations.
The meeting focused on enhancing the strategic partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors. Both sides also reviewed key regional and global developments, particularly their broader implications on stability and international markets.
Importantly, the UK and Saudi leadership reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting efforts aimed at maintaining regional security and long-term stability.
Second Stop: The UAE
Starmer continued his Gulf tour with a visit to the United Arab Emirates, arriving in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning. He was received by Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, ahead of anticipated talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Discussions in the UAE are expected to build on earlier talks, with a focus on maintaining the pause in fighting and advancing efforts to resume shipping safely through the Strait of Hormuz, an issue central to both regional stability and global energy security.
From Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, with more Gulf stops still ahead, Keir Starmer’s tour makes one thing clear: de-escalation and the protection of critical trade routes are at the top of the agenda.
While the Strait of Hormuz is now back open, tensions continue to simmer beneath the surface. The real test of this diplomatic push will be whether these short-term arrangements can be transformed into lasting stability for the region and the global economy.
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