Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman receives at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Sunday British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. — SPA

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond discussed in Jeddah on Sunday bilateral relations and reviewed the developments at the regional and international levels.

Hammond arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first leg of a three-day visit to Gulf countries.

Hammond said in a statement, “Britain’s strong relations with the Gulf states enable us to work together on regional challenges and shared threats that confront us, whether from violent extremism, terrorism, or volatile economic conditions.”

Hammond on Sunday had also welcomed “progress” in Yemen peace talks, saying a solution to the conflict in the battered Arabian Peninsula country must be political, not military.

Hammond said world powers will not “turn a blind eye” to attempts by Iran to destabilize the region.

“In Yemen, progress is being made and we recognize the efforts of the Gulf states, and I have to give particular thanks to Kuwait for hosting the peace negotiations,” Hammond told a news conference in Jeddah.

“All of us must continue to work towards a settlement,” he told reporters, flanked by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

“There is no military alternative to a political settlement in Yemen and there is now a need to win the peace particularly by helping Yemen with stabilization and humanitarian aid,” Hammond added.

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