UK leader Starmer heads to Gulf to talk trade, Middle East

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on the evolving situation in the Middle East, inside 10 Downing Street, in central London, on October 1, 2024. (AFP)
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  • Discussing regional conflicts is expected to be “high up the agenda,” including the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and renewed unrest in Syria

LONDON: Britain’s leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, Downing Street announced.
“There is huge untapped potential in this region, which is why, while here, I will be making the case to accelerate progress on the Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement,” Starmer said in a statement released Saturday.
The meetings will also aim to “deepen our research and development collaboration” and partner on projects in areas including defense and artificial intelligence, Starmer added.
The regional tour will end on Tuesday with Starmer meeting President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, the first bilateral talks between the leaders of Britain and Cyprus in over five decades.
Starmer is also due to address British troops stationed in Cyprus.