Visting Riyadh, the UK’s foreign secretary has reiterated his country’s close ties to Saudi Arabia, days after making comments widely interpreted as critical of the conservative Gulf Arab country.<br /><br /> In a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir, Boris Johnson said: “I am here to emphasise the friendship that exists between the UK and Saudi Arabia.”<br /><br /> “It is something that is developing and expanding.”<br /><br /> “It is also fair to say that we believe in candour in our relationship. Now is the time for us to talk about the positive things that we are doing together.”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What did Boris say last week?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Footage appeared in the British media last Thursday of Johnson accusing Saudi Arabia and Iran of stoking proxy wars in the Middle East.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What has the UK government said?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman said Johnson’s remarks do not reflect actual policy.<br /><br /> Saudi Arabia is a long-term ally of the UK.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What has Saudi Arabia said?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Asked if Riyadh had been getting mixed messages from Britain, Jubeir replied “Absolutely not!”<br /><br /> He said Johnson’s comments had been misconstrued and the UK and Saudi Arabia had enjoyed a long, strategic relationship over the last 100 years.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Yemen<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> British military personnel have been involved with advising the Saudi-led coalition as it pursues a campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen’s civil war.<br /><br /> The war has killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians.<br /><br /> volved with advising the Saudi-led coalition as it pursues a campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen’s civil war. The war has killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, and unleashed a humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Middle East.<br />
