Defence Secretary travels to Middle East to help deter wider regional conflict
The Defence Secretary travelled to the Middle East this week for a regional security mission.
Grant Shapps travelled to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to "drive forward work to maintain regional stability, protect civilians and strengthen the UK's defence partnerships", the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.
He met with leaders in both countries as part of the UK's co-ordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East and ease tensions across the region, with officials and ministers working closely with more than 40 nations.
The visit came as the UK delivered 21 tonnes of life-saving aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including 76,800 wound care packs, water filters and solar lights.
An RAF C-17 aircraft delivered the humanitarian aid to Egypt, for those civilians still in Gaza as Israel's bombardment has left many without food, water or fuel.
This latest aid package is part of the £30m increase in humanitarian support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories announced by the Prime Minister.
The MOD says: "The UK remains committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas."
The Defence Secretary also met his counterpart in Washington DC last week to co-ordinate the UK and US's response to the crisis.
"I'm here in the Middle East to work with some of our most valued defence partners to prevent escalation and protect all civilians, Mr Shapps said.
He added: "Only by working together can we stop more innocent families being plunged into suffering."
On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary held talks in Riyadh with Defence Minister His Royal Highness Khalid bin Salman.
According to the MOD: "He underscored the UK's priority of protecting civilians and deterring an escalation that undermines regional stability."
The recent deployment of UK military assets in the Eastern Mediterranean supports this priority by deterring any malign interference in the conflict.
De-escalation was also top of the agenda in Abu Dhabi, where the Defence Secretary met with President HRH Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Defence Minister Mohammed Al Bowardi.
He underlined that the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf partners have a key role to play as interlocutors, mediators and leaders.
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