Liz Truss expected to expand MENA policies

Afghan Voice Agency(AVA)_Monitoring, Truss, who was formerly foreign secretary, is expected to expand on her already-existing policies concerning the Middle East and North Africa region, the New Arab reported stating that she is most likely to emphasize trade and business given the worsening economic situation sweeping the UK in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Truss, who served as the UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade, has been described as “pragmatic and trade-focused” by the Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC) think-tank, and will look to prioritize and maximize trade opportunities and relationships with MENA countries, particularly the Gulf states, the New Arab reported.

She is also likely to explore non-traditional trade deals in the region. Charlotte Leslie, director of CMEC, told The New Arab that Truss is likely to look at other trading areas which were previously managed by the EU, which the UK left in 2020.

Leslie predicts that Truss will be looking to Algeria for “possible gas and energy deals”, to make up for reduced Russian gas supplies to Europe and the UK.

Truss will also likely explore similar deals in other gas-rich countries in the region. Leslie also told the New Arab that the UK should look out for an appointment of a Middle East and North Africa minister encompassing the entire region, rather than the current case where there are three ministers for each of the Middle East’s sub-regions – North Africa, the Levant and the Gulf states.