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Lord Reid of Cardowan (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 7 January 2026

Debate

Middle East and North Africa

Contribution

My Lords, the conflict in Yemen has now been going on for, I think, more than 12 years, with tragic consequences. Those of us who have observed this over the past decade or so have always regarded it as both a tragedy and a very complicated issue, all the more so because of the recent clashes between the UAE-backed forces and the Saudi forces. I was glad to hear the Minister say that initial contact has been made with a view to de-escalation, because the last thing we need in that area is a further complication, with two external powers contributing towards the tragedy. Is she in a position to tell me whether UK Ministers have had contact with their Emirati and Saudi counterparts and, much more difficult I know, whether they assess those initial contacts as mere superficial politics or they are convinced of the depth of understanding of the danger and the sincerity to de-escalate on the part of both of them?

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