During his visit, Sir Keir spoke with Royal Artillery personnel who have been stationed in the country since late last month (Picture: PA)

Army

Starmer thanks UK personnel stationed in Saudi following US-Iran ceasefire

Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his gratitude to UK personnel stationed at King Fahd Airbase in Saudi Arabia, as he met with Gulf allies to push for a long-term resolution to the Iran conflict.

"The last 39 days has been incredible work, in the collective self-defence of both our countries and the wider region," he said.

"And I just want to start by acknowledging that and saying a big thank you to you for what you have done, what you continue to do and what I know you will go on to do."

'A privilege and an honour'

The Prime Minister's first leg of his Gulf tour comes just days after the US and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Sir Keir said the ceasefire would bring "a sense of relief" around the world, but acknowledged there is still "work to do" in securing a lasting truce.

Addressing UK personnel, including members of the RAF and the Royal Artillery – the latter deployed late last month alongside the Sky Sabre air defence system – spoke of the incredible partnership with the Royal Saudi Air Force, the RAF and the BAE.

"For the best part of 50 years, [you have been] operating here in a really joined-up way, which is so important to our defence," Sir Keir said. "And it's a real pleasure and a privilege and an honour to be here to see what you do, and to understand how you work together."

On the ceasefire, the Prime Minister emphasised that there is still work to be done to make it permanent and stressed the importance of maintaining a continued opening of the Strait of Hormuz – a vital shipping channel through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil transits.

Sir Keir extended his thanks on behalf of himself, and "the millions of people in the UK" (Picture: PA)

As part of those efforts, the Prime Minister met His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and discussed the recent talks at the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters, where 30 nations met to plan and agree on practical steps to give shipping vessels the confidence to transit the strait.

Sir Keir also thanked his Royal Highness for Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect British nationals in the country, and said he was pleased that both countries will soon be marking 100 years of friendship under the Treaty of Jeddah.