Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UK, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, has complained in an article for the Daily Telegraph
that his country is being unfairly picked on in Britain. It is, he
claims, “an alarming change” in tone. His words reflect a puncturing of
the mystique that has traditionally protected the wealthy, secretive
Gulf kingdom from rigorous scrutiny.
But the ambassador’s discomfort may also stem from the Saudi regime’s raised profile in regional affairs, which makes it more of a target for attack, and from a sense that the kingdom’s unelected, uninspiring rulers are increasingly vulnerable.
Successive British governments have treated the Saudi royals with exaggerated respect bordering on obsequiousness. This was primarily down to the Saudis’ unmatched oil wealth, rather than any natural affinity. The motive was self-interest, not affection.
In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher assiduously courted King Fahd during negotiations over the £43bn al-Yamamah arms deal. In an echo of today’s row, Thatcher personally apologised to Fahd in January 1985 for criticism of the Saudis in the British press.
“I attach the very highest importance to maintaining and improving [warm and friendly relations],” she wrote. “I am particularly encouraged by Your Majesty’s welcome assurance that British press reporting on Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to influence our bilateral relations.”
David Cameron’s government has also tried to keep in the Saudis’ good books, playing down a recent spate of shocking human rights cases. The prime minister had to be pushed into intervening over the sentencing to death and crucifixion of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia religious leader, and six others for speaking out against the regime.
But the ambassador’s discomfort may also stem from the Saudi regime’s raised profile in regional affairs, which makes it more of a target for attack, and from a sense that the kingdom’s unelected, uninspiring rulers are increasingly vulnerable.
Successive British governments have treated the Saudi royals with exaggerated respect bordering on obsequiousness. This was primarily down to the Saudis’ unmatched oil wealth, rather than any natural affinity. The motive was self-interest, not affection.
In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher assiduously courted King Fahd during negotiations over the £43bn al-Yamamah arms deal. In an echo of today’s row, Thatcher personally apologised to Fahd in January 1985 for criticism of the Saudis in the British press.
“I attach the very highest importance to maintaining and improving [warm and friendly relations],” she wrote. “I am particularly encouraged by Your Majesty’s welcome assurance that British press reporting on Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to influence our bilateral relations.”
David Cameron’s government has also tried to keep in the Saudis’ good books, playing down a recent spate of shocking human rights cases. The prime minister had to be pushed into intervening over the sentencing to death and crucifixion of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia religious leader, and six others for speaking out against the regime.
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