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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Stephen Hitchen begins role as British ambassador to Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The new British ambassador to Saudi Arabia Stephen Hitchen has now formally started his role, the UK's embassy in Riyadh announced on Tuesday. He has moved to Saudi Arabia with his family and succeeds Neil Crompton who completed his tenure in July. On his arrival in the Saudi capital, Hitchen commented: 'My appointment as British ambassador to Saudi Arabia is the greatest honor of my life. Our two kingdoms have enjoyed a long friendship, and we both have proud histories and high ambitions for the future.' 'My family and I have already enjoyed the famous Saudi hospitality, and we look forward to exploring your beautiful mountains, desert, towns and cities,' the ambassador added. He brings extensive Middle East experience to the role, having previously served as the British ambassador to Iraq from 2023 to 2025, and as Director for Middle East and North Africa (National Security) within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from 2016 to 2019. His career has included postings across the region, including Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt, along with specialist roles focusing on Iran and counter-terrorism.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia lashes out at Trump's pick of ‘Zionist' envoy Nick Adams: ‘not welcome here'
The Trump administration's selection of Nick Adams , a self-styled 'Alpha Male' author and social media provocateur, as the next US ambassador to Malaysia has triggered outrage in the Muslim-majority nation, with critics questioning the motives behind the decision. Advertisement Washington announced on Thursday that Adams, who has a history of inflammatory remarks, had been selected for the diplomatic post. The decision has prompted alarm among diplomats and Southeast Asian observers, many of whom see President Donald Trump 's choice as prioritising political loyalty over diplomatic expertise. Adams, a naturalised American and former member of Australia 's Liberal Party before immigrating to the United States in 2012, has regularly courted controversy with his misogynistic remarks, Islamophobic tirades – such as the claim that Trump's opponents sought to 'teach Islam in schools' – and vocal support of Israel Members of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim 's ruling coalition have decried Adams's appointment as an 'insult' to the Muslim-majority country, especially its decades of support for Palestinian rights. Nick Adams is not a diplomat, not a statesman. He is merely an extreme right-wing propagandist Mus'ab Muzahar, Amanah official 'Nick Adams is not a diplomat, not a statesman. He is merely an extreme right-wing propagandist, a Trumpist and vocal supporter of Israel's Zionist regime,' said Mus'ab Muzahar, an official from moderate Islamist party Amanah, part of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition. Advertisement 'His social media rhetoric is full of hatred, racism and Islamophobic sentiments which veer far from mature bilateral relations.'
