Cameron in Gulf to strengthen UK defense ties

PanARMENIAN.Net - UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to raise human rights as he arrived in the Gulf on a trip to strengthen the UK's defense, security and commercial ties, according to BBC News.

He said there would be no "no-go areas" but discussions would take place showing "respect and friendship".

Britain is looking to sell Typhoon jets to Dubai and Saudi Arabia, despite allegations of human rights abuses.

Cameron said countries had a right to self-defense and promoting UK business was "completely legitimate". He is hoping to increase defense co-operation with the United Arab Emirates, including contingency plans for the possible basing of RAF warplanes if conflict erupts with Iran.

Speaking in Dubai, Cameron said: "On human rights, there are no no-go areas in this relationship. We discuss all of these things but we also show respect and friendship to a very old ally and partner. We have one of the strictest regimes anywhere in the world for sales of defense equipment but we do believe that countries have a right to self-defense and we do believe that Britain has important defense industries that employ over 300,000 people so that sort of business is completely legitimate and right."

It is Cameron's second visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as prime minister. A number of RAF Typhoons are already in the UAE for a joint training session.

The Prime Minister is expected to push for the UAE to buy 60 of BAE's Typhoon jets in a deal worth £3bn, which would secure thousands of jobs in the UK.