Lords urge UK to move from Trump Middle East policy

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The U.K. must recalibrate its policies in the Middle East by distancing itself from the U.S. under a “mercurial and unpredictable” Donald Trump, a report by the British parliament’s upper chamber has said.

The government should also seriously consider recognizing Palestine as a state to boost the peace process in the region and give support to the Iran nuclear deal, the House of Lords’ report added.

Tuesday's report by the International Relations Committee suggested U.S. policies under Trump were not constructive and presented a challenge for the U.K.

“The U.S. president has taken positions that are unconstructive and could even escalate conflict,” the report reads.

“The mercurial and unpredictable nature of policy-making by President Trump has made it challenging for the U.K. government to influence U.S. foreign policy so far, a challenge that is not likely to ease,” the lords added.

British “confusion and disarray” over Syria reflected contradictions in international policy on Bashar al-Assad’s regime, it added. “The objective of displacing Assad, as a prerequisite of any settlement, with the current means and policy, has proved unachievable.”

The report also urged the government to double efforts to find a solution in Syria.

“Despite the chemical attack and the recent escalation of military conflict Assad, with Russian support, remains in power,” it said. “There are no good options available in Syria but the recent chemical attack, the urgency of the humanitarian crisis, with the potential to destabilize the EU and countries of the Middle East with refugees, requires the U.K., and international community, to redouble its efforts to achieve a negotiated solution.”

The report also called for London to adopt a tougher line with Saudi Arabia over its actions in the Yemen conflict, including the possibility of suspending some arms exports to the kingdom if necessary.