Cameron holds talks with Gulf leaders

Visit by UK PM comes amid strained ties with region over criticism at home of Gulf states’ human-rights record.

Cameron Dubai UAE
Cameron said discussions with the UAE and Saudi Arabia would show 'respect and friendship' [Reuters]

David Cameron, UK prime minister, has sought to balance British concern over human rights in Gulf Arab states with winning lucrative arms deals for his country as he started a tour of the region.

Cameron on Monday supported calls for greater democracy in the Middle East and said that the British government was engaging Gulf states – some of which are facing political unrest – on their human rights record.

But discussions would show “respect and friendship”, he said, recognising that governments have resented foreign
criticism.

Cameron arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday and will visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday before travelling to another destination in the Middle East.

High on his agenda will be selling the BAE Systems-built Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.

BAE officials say the UAE has shown interest in ordering up to 60 Typhoons. He will also talk to UAE officials
about how to develop a “strategic air defence relationship”, including collaboration on military aerospace equipment.

Saudi Arabia has also signalled it might place a second substantial order of Typhoons on top of the 72 jets it has
already acquired, Cameron’s office said.

However, Cameron’s trip is complicated by human rights issues as Gulf states struggle to contain protests inspired by the Arab Spring and Western nations weigh up their own strategic and commercial interests.

Anger at criticism

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both shown resentment over criticism by the British parliament, media and human rights groups over their alleged lack of democracy and stifling of dissent.

Cameron himself has also been taken to task at home for muting criticism of pro-Western Gulf states – and trying to
sell them arms – in comparison to his strident support for the opposition in other Arab struggles such as Libya and Syria.

Meeting students in Abu Dhabi on Monday, Cameron said: “I’m a supporter of the Arab Spring, the opportunity of moving towards more open societies, more open democracies, I think is good for the Middle East, for North Africa.”

Later in Dubai, he said of his visit to Saudi Arabia: “On human rights, there are no no-go areas in this relationship. We discuss all of these things but we also show respect and friendship to a very old ally and partner.”

He also said it was legitimate to promote British business and that the purpose of his trip was “to help Britain compete and thrive in the global race”.

Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, who was with Cameron as he showed off the Typhoon at an airfield, said commercial links had not been affected by politics.

Asked about the prospects of Britain winning the possible order for the aircraft, he said: “I think these things are
complicated, they take time of course.”

Gargash also said the West should be wary of supporting opposition groups born out of the Arab Spring protests.

“Many people are still caught in the euphoria of the Arab Spring, but in reality what we’re seeing currently in the Arab Spring is basically an entrenchment of conservative religious parties. They’re taking control,” Gargash said.

Common interest

Gulf rulers are wary of parties linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which won power in Egypt after last year’s popular
uprising.

Western governments also fear the Arab Spring could usher in what they call a hardline Islamist rule in the place of authoritarian but pro-Western governments.

The UAE has been criticised for its response to the Arab Spring.

The European Parliament last month expressed “great concern about assaults, repression and intimidation” against rights activists.

Human Rights Watch says the UAE’s record has “worsened significantly” in recent months.

Gargash said criticism of the UAE was often exaggerated and inaccurate, and while not perfect, the UAE has a “forward looking, secular, and open” agenda.

A major oil exporter and regional business hub, the UAE arrested about 60 people in recent months, accusing them of belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and conspiring to overthrow the government.

Britain has historic ties with Gulf Arab states, many of them former British protectorates.

Areas of mutual interest include opposition to Iran, counter-terrorism, and securing oil supplies. The Foreign Office says British exports to the region are worth $27.44bn, on a par with China and India combined.

Source: News Agencies