UK's Johnson takes step back after Saudi Arabia gaffe
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reiterated Britain's close ties to Saudi Arabia on a visit on Sunday and said candor was also important, days after making comments widely seen as critical of the conservative Gulf Arab country.
He said in a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that he had deep concern for Yemeni suffering but recognized Riyadh faced a grave threat from that country's conflict, in which the kingdom is leading a coalition of Arab forces against an Iranian-allied Yemen's Houthi rebel group.
"I'm here to emphasize the friendship that exists between the UK and Saudi Arabia, and that is something that is developing and expanding," Johnson said. "And it's also fair to say that we believe in candour in our relationship. Now is the time for us to talk about the positive things that we are doing together."
The press took out of context comments by the British foreign secretary about "proxy wars" waged by longtime ally Saudi Arabia, the Saudi foreign minister also said Sunday, deeming the matter closed. Asked if Riyadh had been getting mixed messages from Britain, Jubeir replied "Absolutely not". Jubeir said Johnson's comments had been misconstrued, and Britain and Saudi Arabia had enjoyed a long strategic relationship extending over 100 years.
Footage was published in British media on Thursday of Johnson accusing Saudi Arabia, an old ally of Britain's, and Iran of engaging in "puppeteering" and "playing proxy wars" across the Middle East. Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said his remarks did not reflect actual policy. The Guardian report came a day after British Prime Minister Theresa May attended a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in Bahrain.
British military personnel have been involved with advising the Saudi-led coalition as it pursues a campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen's civil war. The war has killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, and unleashed a humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Middle East.
May, who visited the Middle East this week, met Saudi King Salman and "set out very clearly the government's view on our relationship with Saudi Arabia, that it is a vital partner for the UK particularly on counter-terrorism", she said.
May appointed Johnson, who was key in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, in July, after he failed in a bid to become prime minister, cementing her appeal to other Brexit supporters in the ruling Conservative Party.
He said in a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir that he had deep concern for Yemeni suffering but recognized Riyadh faced a grave threat from that country's conflict, in which the kingdom is leading a coalition of Arab forces against an Iranian-allied Yemen's Houthi rebel group.
"I'm here to emphasize the friendship that exists between the UK and Saudi Arabia, and that is something that is developing and expanding," Johnson said. "And it's also fair to say that we believe in candour in our relationship. Now is the time for us to talk about the positive things that we are doing together."
The press took out of context comments by the British foreign secretary about "proxy wars" waged by longtime ally Saudi Arabia, the Saudi foreign minister also said Sunday, deeming the matter closed. Asked if Riyadh had been getting mixed messages from Britain, Jubeir replied "Absolutely not". Jubeir said Johnson's comments had been misconstrued, and Britain and Saudi Arabia had enjoyed a long strategic relationship extending over 100 years.
Footage was published in British media on Thursday of Johnson accusing Saudi Arabia, an old ally of Britain's, and Iran of engaging in "puppeteering" and "playing proxy wars" across the Middle East. Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said his remarks did not reflect actual policy. The Guardian report came a day after British Prime Minister Theresa May attended a summit with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in Bahrain.
British military personnel have been involved with advising the Saudi-led coalition as it pursues a campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen's civil war. The war has killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, and unleashed a humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Middle East.
May, who visited the Middle East this week, met Saudi King Salman and "set out very clearly the government's view on our relationship with Saudi Arabia, that it is a vital partner for the UK particularly on counter-terrorism", she said.
May appointed Johnson, who was key in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, in July, after he failed in a bid to become prime minister, cementing her appeal to other Brexit supporters in the ruling Conservative Party.