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His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Jeddah on April 8, 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to a statement from the UK government, Starmer welcomed a recent ceasefire and emphasised the need to uphold it while transforming the agreement into a lasting peace. The leaders reviewed ongoing regional challenges, with the prime minister highlighting the importance of coordinated international action.
The UK government statement indicated that Starmer stressed the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to restore confidence for commercial shipping. He detailed British efforts to bring together partners and develop practical steps for safe transit through the waterway. The discussion reflected broader concerns over disruptions that have affected global trade routes since the conflict intensified.
Starmer thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s contributions to protecting British nationals in the kingdom throughout the period of heightened tensions, the statement continued. The prime minister referenced the recent deployment of the British Sky Sabre air defence system as an example of the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting its ally. He had met with UK personnel stationed to operate the system earlier that day.
The two sides explored ways to expand defence industrial cooperation in order to strengthen long-term capabilities and mutual security, according to the UK government statement. They also examined opportunities to grow their trade and investment relationship, which the UK Department for Business and Trade factsheet placed at £13.8 billion in the four quarters to the end of 2025. UK exports to Saudi Arabia totalled £10.2 billion while imports stood at £3.5 billion during that period.
The leaders observed that the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia would soon mark 100 years of friendship under the Treaty of Jeddah signed in 1927, the statement said. Starmer expressed his pleasure at the milestone, and both parties indicated they anticipated further discussions in the near future. The meeting reinforced a strategic partnership that has evolved to cover economic diversification, security coordination and investment flows.
Subsequent UK government data from June 2026 reaffirmed the two countries’ shared goal of substantially increasing bilateral trade volumes over the coming years. The April talks built upon earlier strategic partnership council sessions that have focused on aligning Saudi Vision 2030 priorities with British expertise in key sectors. Officials from both sides have consistently identified defence, energy transition and technology as central pillars for future collaboration.
