Royal Endorsement: UK's Soft Power Deploys for Saudi 'Vision'
📰 THE STORY: The Independent reports that Prince William will undertake his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, following a request from Opposition leader Keir Starmer, to mark nearly a century of diplomatic relations and strengthen ties. The visit is framed as a boost for UK-Saudi relations. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The UK's 'diplomatic relations' with Saudi Arabia
have long been defined by arms sales and strategic alliances, often at the expense of human rights. Since 2015, the UK has licensed over £28 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia, even as the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, which started in 2014, killed an estimated 377,000 people by the end of 2021, according to the UN. The UK supplied bombs and fighter jets used in this devastating conflict, often
under the guise of 'maintaining stability.' This 'vision' they speak of has been built on the blood of Yemenis. Double Standard: The same UK government that imposes sanctions on nations for human rights abuses and decries 'authoritarianism' (e.g., sanctioning Iranian officials for internal crackdowns) not only embraces, but actively enables, Saudi Arabia, a kingdom notorious for arbitrary
detentions, suppression of dissent, and extrajudicial killings – including the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. When Russia commits human rights violations, the West calls for isolation; when Saudi Arabia does – and commits them with UK-supplied weaponry – a royal visit is arranged to 'strengthen ties.' Follow the Money: This visit is not about goodwill; it's about solidifying the