To feel a little freaked out at Saudi propaganda advert

[AnathemaPulsifer]

In the ads on Greys Anatomy. Travelogue-style montage with voiceover: "Saudi women have been allowed to drive and cinemas are to reopen this year after a 35 year ban. [...] The Kingdom is reducing its reliance on oil by investing in various projects to achieve the 2030 vision of turning Saudi Arabia into a hub connecting three continents [...] Key world partnerships are at the heart of this shift, mainly with the United Kingdom. Our longstanding relationship brings increased prosperity and security for both countries"

Felt a little threatening somehow, as in 'play nice or you'll regret it', especially in the light of: www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/saudi-arabia/report-saudi-arabia/

"If the Crown Prince tackles Wahhabisim"

That in itself is ironic because thats exactly what this "Prince" is - a terrorist Wahabi, like all of the ruling Saudi elite and Sunni clergy there.

Laughable.

Sorry, had posted this late at night then forgotten about it. Thank you all for some really interesting insights, especially @SandLand.

This was the standout point for me: But if international relationships drive the need for change, surely cutting off that relationship will stagnate the changes? - I guess we need to give them a chance! Cautiously.

To those who are describing Saudi as being "backwards" have you ever actually been to the country? Particularly recently since all the changes have been made?

Do I have to go to the Moon to know there's no air to breathe?

We know about those famed 'changes' - which only serve to PROVE the backwardness of the place, no?

The shame is with us who deal with them.

How did we deal with slave traders when we realised our mistakes? Did we continue to trade with them?

No!

I am for being cautious and testing the waters about trading with any country who shows some efforts towards change. We can't expect change to happen overnight; it's often not a good thing when it happen too fast anyway. We also have to remember that different cultures also do things in a different way to us and that is fine; it's their country after all. (I do however get irritable when I hear of all sort of "complaints" about the UK not being ok for them one way or the other. It's our country and we do things our way. Get on with it. But that's a different topic...)

If we accept to trade only with (nearly) uncorrupted, (mostly) democratic countries where human rights are (almost) fully respected, we will run out of partners soon enough. Oh, wait! Did we not voted to exit such arrangement not so long ago?...

*How did we deal with slave traders when we realised our mistakes? Did we continue to trade with them?

No!*

When did the UK ever stop trading with Spain & the Americas? I mean, I know there was the brief Spanish Armada thing, but that wasn't over the slave trade.

I'm rather agog at people seemingly thinking that 'our' government is somehow whiter than white and some sort of corruption free ideology that others should use as their compass?! Where there is money/oil/resources there will be allies, until 'we' decide that those resources would be better in 'our' hands so then they will be be declared terrorists and 'we' will have to take the troops in to save the world

Totally agree with you, easypeasy.
It's called ethnocentrism.
As for the comment about slavery, eh, the UK has propped up many regimes that have suppressed blacks. South Africa being a key example.

Exactly Easypeasy.

As if the UK is ever going to not trade with Saudi because of human rights?

You might not want to go to Saudi but we can't ignore what they have.