Theresa May’s Trip To KSA Politically Motivated In Line With Arab Regimes’ Interests

MEP: The main goal of Theresa May’s visit to Saudi Arabia is talking about Iraq and Iran elections, besides crises in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain, says Nick Clegg.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said the British Prime Minster Theresa May’s visit to Saudi Arabia will, despite claims it is solely for trade and security purposes, focus on Middle East political issues such as Iraq election, Iran election, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the former Lib Dem leader described May’s trip to Saudi Arabia as “dancing to the tune” of the Arab regime so that it can gain its political ambitions in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain.

“Undermining the consolidation of Iran-backed Shiite groups in Iraq by supporting certain candidates in the country’s upcoming election will be high on the agenda of the negotiations between May and Saudi authorities,” Clegg said.

The British politician also said the two sides will discuss Iran’s 2017 presidential election. “The results of the upcoming presidential election in Iran would be of particular concern for the entire world especially the regional rivals such as Saudi Arabia,” he went on to say.

Clegg believes that the future of Syria is a matter of concern for Saudi Arabia and the country is ‘begging support’ from world powers including the United Kingdom for its policies regarding Syria.

Bahrain and the crackdown on the opposition, Clegg says, is what May and Saudi officials can agree on given the close partnership she has set up with the leaders of the tiny Gulf state following her visit to the country late last year.

Touching on the Saudi-led war on Yemen, Clegg was on the opinion that Saudi Arabia will certainly ask the UK premier to increase her support for the country in its campaign against Yemeni rebels by providing the country with more bombs and weapons.

“The public opinion in the UK is against UK’s support for Saudi military intervention in Yemen, calling for an end to the arms sales to Saudi Arabia,” The British MP added.

Clegg went on to say that the UK prime minister is ‘kissing up’ to the leaders of the Gulf countries to compensate for the country’s lost image in the world after Brexit, but, he says, this is a bigger mistake as it will ruin the UK’s reputation in the eyes of Middle East nations such as Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Syria.

Prime Minister May arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for a two-day visit after leaving Jordan where she met with King Abdullah II and visited a military base near Amman. She met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Nayef yesterday.