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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held the telephone conversation with the British prime minister on July 27. During the exchange the crown prince congratulated Andy Burnham on assuming office and expressed hopes for his success along with prosperity for the United Kingdom. The crown prince also highlighted the strength of existing relations between the two countries, a theme that has featured in multiple high-level Saudi-British contacts over recent years.
Burnham thanked the crown prince for the warm sentiments and condemned attacks by the Houthis on navigation in the Red Sea, the Saudi Press Agency stated. The prime minister affirmed the United Kingdom’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty in the face of such threats. This position aligns with Britain’s longstanding involvement in maritime security initiatives in the region, including participation in international coalitions aimed at protecting shipping lanes.
The two leaders reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation and explored ways to strengthen ties further, according to the agency. They exchanged views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest during the discussion. Such conversations build on a series of prior calls between Saudi and British leadership that have addressed similar topics since Burnham took office.
Red Sea security has remained a persistent concern for both nations amid repeated incidents targeting commercial vessels. A compilation of shipping industry reports tracked by Reuters has documented dozens of Houthi-linked attacks and warnings in the waterway since late 2023, forcing many operators to reroute around Africa and raising global trade costs. The UK has contributed naval assets to efforts safeguarding the area, a fact noted in multiple statements from the British defence ministry over the past two years.
Bilateral economic links between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom extend across investment, energy and defence sectors. British companies maintain a significant presence in the kingdom while Saudi sovereign funds have allocated capital to UK infrastructure and technology projects, according to data published by the UK Department for Business and Trade. The latest call underscores continued high-level engagement as both sides navigate evolving regional dynamics.
The Saudi Press Agency indicated that the conversation reflected the two countries’ shared interest in stability across the Middle East. No further details on specific outcomes or follow-up actions were released in the official account. The exchange comes weeks after other diplomatic contacts between Saudi officials and Western counterparts focused on de-escalation in nearby conflict zones.
