UK and Gulf States Hail Trade Deal After Four Years of Talks

The UK signed a long-awaited trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council on Thursday, deepening its ties with the oil-rich nations at a time of rising geopolitical tension and economic pressures.

The free trade agreement, signed on Wednesday, marks an end to four years of talks between the UK and the bloc, which includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. UK ministers had hoped they could complete the deal before the end of last year, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited Saudi Arabia in October.

“The Gulf states are valued economic partners and this agreement deepens ...