UK PM Johnson defends Saudi visit after mass execution

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson inspects the Guard of Honour as he arrives at Abu Dhabi Airport at the start of his visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 16, 2022. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended on Wednesday his decision to visit Saudi Arabia where he is seeking increased supplies of oil, saying ties with the country were very important and promising to raise human rights issues.

Johnson arrived in the United Arab Emirates and will later visit Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to secure additional oil flows to replace Russian hydrocarbons and increase diplomatic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.