Keir Starmer arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for the first stop of a Gulf diplomatic tour, meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of an international effort to translate the fragile US-Iran ceasefire into something more durable.
The visit came hours after Starmer had welcomed the overnight agreement, saying it would “bring a moment of relief to the region and the world” and calling for it to be “turned into a lasting agreement.”
The visit is shaped by a peculiar set of political pressures. Britain has participated militarily in the conflict since granting the US permission on March 1 to use UK bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian capabilities. That decision, made after Starmer initially refused a broader request from President Trump, severed something of the personal warmth that had previously characterised the two leaders’ relationship.
UK armed forces personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region during the hostilities. The RAF has conducted more than 1,600 hours of defensive operations since February 28. That contribution is real and operationally significant. It has come at a political price, with opposition parties including the Conservatives and Reform UK accusing Starmer of indecisiveness in the early stages and insufficient support for the United States.
Fuel costs at home have been the most tangible domestic consequence of the conflict. The average price of diesel reached 190.6p per litre on Wednesday morning, a 34 percent increase since February 28. Unleaded petrol averaged 157.7p, up 19 percent, according to RAC data. The ceasefire sent oil prices sharply lower, but whether that translates into meaningful pump price relief over the next several weeks depends on how quickly tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz normalises.
Starmer’s broader goal on this tour is to build on a UK-convened virtual meeting of more than 40 countries held last week, which explored mechanisms for an International coalition to protect shipping through the Strait. That conversation has an inherently awkward quality given that the war which created the problem was launched without UK endorsement and continues to place UK nationals at risk across the Gulf region.
The Saudi leg of the visit also touched on defence cooperation and the two countries’ long-standing bilateral relationship, which Starmer noted is approaching its centenary. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry reported intercepting nine drones targeting its territory while Starmer was arriving in the country, a reminder that the ceasefire’s practical implementation remains incomplete.
In talks with journalists before leaving the UK, Starmer was blunt about the scale of what remains unresolved. “This ceasefire should be not a temporary ceasefire but a permanent ceasefire,” he said. He added, with characteristic directness: “On top of that, we have to acknowledge that this war was not our war, but my job is to protect the UK. It’s already had an impact on the UK, and it’s very important we get the Strait of Hormuz open. There’s a lot of work to do there.”