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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking the start of a Gulf tour focused on reinforcing the fragile ceasefire linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Downing Street.
The visit is Starmer’s first to the region since the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28. During his stay, he is expected to hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Around the same time as his arrival, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry reported intercepting nine drones aimed at its territory, even after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran had been reached overnight. Officials did not disclose where the drones were intercepted or their intended targets.
Earlier in the day, Starmer welcomed the ceasefire, describing it as a source of temporary relief for both the region and the wider international community. He stressed the importance of working with global partners to uphold the truce, transform it into a durable agreement, and ensure the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Later, the British leader joined counterparts from countries including Canada, Japan, and several European nations in a joint statement urging swift diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to a complete end within days. The statement emphasised that negotiations remain the only viable path to lasting peace.
The Gulf trip follows a virtual meeting hosted by the UK on Tuesday, where military officials from more than 30 countries discussed forming a coalition to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz after the ceasefire. According to the Ministry of Defence, the discussions centred on restoring stability in the critical shipping route.
A separate UK-led diplomatic meeting last week, involving around 40 nations, also focused on the same waterway, which has been largely inaccessible since the conflict began—disrupting global supplies of oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilisers.
During the hostilities, UK forces have played a significant defensive role. Downing Street noted that British personnel intercepted over 110 drone attacks in the region, while the Royal Air Force carried out more than 1,600 hours of defensive missions.
