Lords to question Boris Johnson on the Middle East

Boris Johnson has made a number of high profile comments on the future of the Middle East since taking office and the Committee will question him on the future of the region and the role Britain has to play in it.

The evidence session will start at 10:00am on Thursday 26 January in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.

Areas the Committee will cover with Mr Johnson include:

• How international changes including Donald Trump's election as US President, Brexit and the resurgence of Russia will impact on the Middle East and how the UK should respond?
• How, post Brexit, the UK can promote stability in the Middle East, as well as promoting its own values and trade opportunities?
• How will the UK continue to work closely with European partners on issues in the Middle East post Brexit?
• Why has the UK distanced itself from recent criticism of the Israeli government and how closely it will ally itself with the Trump administration regarding the Middle East Peace Process?
• Whether he is concerned that the UK and Europe have been excluded from the Syrian peace talks. Whether the UK would support the Trump administration if it decided to prioritise defeating ISIS over the removal of the al-Assad regime.
• Will the UK remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal if the US withdraws from it? Will the UK press the US to remain committed to the deal?
• Will the Government heed the call for the UK to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia pending a UN-led inquiry into alleged violations of international humanitarian law?