Tunisian President Kais Saied recently met with the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy, to discuss the status of bilateral relations between their two countries.
The meeting, held on Friday, focused on strengthening ties and explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in various areas including the economy, trade, investment, energy, security, and education.
President Saied highlighted the strong foundation of the relationship between Tunisia and the UK, noting that there is still room for growth. He emphasised the importance of improving economic and trade links, as well as enhancing cooperation on security and educational initiatives.
Both leaders agreed that there are significant opportunities to expand their partnership in these key sectors, and that mutual efforts can lead to positive outcomes for both nations.
Saied also discussed the potential for increased bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly in addressing global and regional challenges. He drew attention to the ongoing issues surrounding terrorism and migration, which are exacerbated by cross-border criminal networks.
He underscored the importance of international collaboration in dismantling these networks, while also advocating for improved conditions in source countries.
Saied called for greater efforts to provide individuals in these regions with the opportunity to live with dignity, security, and stability, thus reducing the need for dangerous migration routes.
The President further addressed the global response to the challenges faced by the Palestinian people, noting that recent actions have been faster, more unified, and stronger than the responses from traditional global institutions.
This, he suggested, could serve as a model for how the international community could tackle other crises with similar urgency and cohesion.
For his part, Lammy acknowledged the importance of strengthening UK-Tunisia ties and expressed the UK’s commitment to supporting Tunisia in addressing these shared challenges.
He invited President Saied to visit the UK and deliver a lecture at Oxford University in London on the evolving landscape of humanitarian and political thought, both at the national and global levels. Lammy’s invitation reflects the UK’s desire to deepen its diplomatic and academic engagement with Tunisia.
Following his meeting with President Saied, Lammy was welcomed by Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti. The two officials held further discussions on pressing issues, particularly focusing on the situation in the Sahel region.
They exchanged views on the region's impact on migration and agreed on the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle the root causes of migration.
Both countries recognised the importance of combating smuggling networks, promoting regular migration channels, and addressing the broader issues that contribute to instability in the region.
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