Boris Johnson’s controversial visit to Saudi capital
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to travel Riyadh later this week to pursue “oil talks” in an effort to redirect British and European dependence on Russian oil.
The UK’s relationship has come under fire after Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in 24 hours on charges of terrorism and holding “deviant beliefs”.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid was challenged over the visit following the executions on March 12, saying, “Wherever there are human rights issues we have raised them with them and we can do that because we have this relationship. But we also have an economic relationship with Saudi Arabia, we’re not dependent directly as a country on their oil, but energy prices and access to energy is a hugely important issue.”
Balancing human rights abuses with a global energy crisis and the Russian conflict has divided opinion over the Prime Minister’s visit.
Boris Johnson is not ‘turning a blind eye’ to Saudi human rights abuses to keep the lights on, insists Sajid Javid
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We will raise mass executions with Riyadh, Downing Street says
