The United Kingdom is planning development partnerships with “like-minded partners” in the Gulf, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss used a trip to the region this week to try to establish working groups with Saudi Arabia and Qatar for infrastructure and financing projects in African and Asian countries, according to an FCDO statement.
Truss is seeking bilateral investment partnerships to finance the G-7’s Build Back Better World initiative — widely said to be a Western rival to the Chinese Belt and Road infrastructure project.
“I want to work with like-minded partners to help provide clean and reliable infrastructure in the developing world,” said Truss in the statement.
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She added: “This should be a win-win-win deal for the UK, the Gulf, and countries across Africa and Asia that will create jobs, improve lives, and benefit British and Gulf businesses operating in the region.”
Ports, roads, and water and energy networks are among the projects being considered.
Co-investment in infrastructure and economic development is “a key part of the Foreign Secretary’s plan to deepen economic ties with allies and boost jobs and growth both in the UK and the developing world,” according to the statement.
Why it matters: The announcement sparked criticism from Polly Truscott, a human rights adviser at Amnesty International UK, who said she was worried that the partnerships meant human rights concerns would be played down in favor of economic objectives.
“We should remember that Saudi Arabia regularly trumpets its aid projects in Yemen,” she said, “While at the same time conducting aerial bombardments which have destroyed Yemeni hospitals and food depots.”
About the author
William Worley@willrworley
Will Worley is the Climate Correspondent for Devex, covering the intersection of development and climate change. He previously worked as UK Correspondent, reporting on the FCDO and British aid policy during a time of seismic reforms. Will’s extensive reporting on the UK aid cuts saw him shortlisted for ‘Specialist Journalist of the Year’ in 2021 by the British Journalism Awards. He can be reached at william.worley@devex.com.
