RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is in Saudi Arabia as part of a trip to the Middle East, amid recent disputes with the kingdom.
Hammond met with King Salman and other officials on Wednesday. The official Saudi Press Agency said the discussion involved reviewing “bilateral relations between the two friendly countries,” though there have been recent problems.
Among them is a decision by the British government to cancel a government contract to train Saudi prison staff. In response, Saudi Ambassador Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz wrote an article for the Daily Telegraph newspaper complaining about a lack of “mutual respect” between the two countries and warned of “potentially serious repercussions.”
The ambassador added that Saudi Arabia “will not be lectured to by anyone.”
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