According to Aljazeera website, today Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier today, he began this short trip in the United Arab Emirates, where he met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in order to discuss the opportunities to increase collaboration on energy security, defense and trade.
Later on, Boris Johnson has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh for talks aimed at moving away from reliance on Russian oil and gas supplies amid the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Saudi press agency SPA said that Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman also attended this meeting, adding that Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership council.
“I’m visiting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are key partners in ensuring regional security and stabilizing global energy markets after Russia’s unprecedented, brutal and illegal invasion,” Johnson wrote on Twitter.
The UK leader is attempting to rein in oil prices, which soared to nearly $140 a barrel before dropping below $100, and help end the West’s dependency on Russian oil following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.