Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 9, 2024
1 min readLast updated: January 27, 2026
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UK PM Keir Starmer commits to boosting Middle East engagement for stability, with a focus on defence cooperation and humanitarian aid for Syria.
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to step up the country's engagement in the Middle East to support long-term stability, the government said on Monday.
"The stability of the Middle East is paramount to delivering a foundation of security at home," the statement cited Starmer as having said during his first visit to the region since taking office in July.
"The Prime Minister said the UK will play a more present and consistent role in the region, and work with partners to increase defence cooperation to strengthen deterrence of threats across land, sea, space, air and cyber."
Starmer also set out an additional 11 million pounds ($14.07 million) of humanitarian aid for Syria, where rebel forces have seized the capital of Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia.
Starmer has also agreed to bolster the existing defence partnership between Britain and Saudi Arabia and promote greater defence industrial cooperation.
($1 = 0.7820 pounds)
(Reporting by Muvija M; editing by William James)
The main topic is UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to increase engagement in the Middle East for long-term stability.
The UK announced an additional 11 million pounds in humanitarian aid for Syria.
The UK is bolstering its defence partnership with Saudi Arabia and promoting greater defence industrial cooperation.
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