In Northern Slant’s most recent ‘Political Week in 5 points’ you might have spotted Saudi Arabia’s imminent deal with the British aerospace giant BAE Systems to buy 48 Typhoon fighter jets. This is one of a number of opportunities currently in the works as the UK and Saudi Arabia seek to develop a new trading and investment relationship.

While the UK has enjoyed a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia for over 100 years, the timing of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to London last week marked a significant moment as both countries face transformative changes domestically. Prime Minister Theresa May described the visit as an opportunity to: “usher in a new era of bilateral relations.”

For the UK, the departure next year from the EU has put a new emphasis and urgency on the country to expand its global trade relations. While there will be a painstaking effort in coming months to secure a compromise for future relations with the EU itself, Theresa May must begin cultivating friends and existing trade relationships beyond the EU. A new free trade deal with Saudi Arabia would also be attractive to major economic blocks, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council that Saudi Arabia leads, and would prove to the rest of the world the seriousness of Britain’s commercial and investment aspirations.

As for Saudi Arabia, the decline in global oil prices has presented the notoriously oil dependent desert kingdom with difficult economic challenges. The economy has seen slow recovery in recent years and is looking for new ways to draw in international investment to fill its budget deficit. The country’s new heir to the Saudi throne Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is better known, is pursuing an ambitious economic and social reform programme called ‘Vision 2030’. The aim of this programme is to shift Saudi Arabia away from dependence on oil and meet the demands of its young and growing population with educational and employment opportunities, and access to more a diverse culture.

There is a strong belief amongst young future Saudi entrepreneurs, that the United Kingdom is a world leader in education and culture. So it is a happy coincidence for the UK that the sectors that Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ requires external support for, are areas of British expertise including education and training, renewables, financial services, retail and manufacturing.

There is no question that the blueprint for a new trading relationship looks exciting for the economic prosperity of both countries, but should economic prosperity be the UK’s sole driving force post-Brexit for trade deals with other countries? What about moral accountability?

The relationship with Saudi Arabia has often presented itself as one of challenge and unease for British leaders as they are confronted by a number of controversial topics. Most notably the current Saudi led war in neighbouring Yemen has been a major sore on the British government’s conscience, and has been described by the United Nations as the world’s worst man-made humanitarian disaster. Although Theresa May is reported to have expressed deep concerns during the Crown Prince’s recent visit about the way in which the Saudi government is fighting the war, it is a war that the UK have supported in principle as they have backed the Saudi effort to reinstate the internationally recognised Yemeni government from the takeover by Iranian backed Houthi rebels. It is a war that is creating huge instability in the region and there is a concern that like Syria and Libya this instability will create a vacuum that will be filled by terrorism and radical extremism. Something the UK cannot not afford to let happen.

Furthermore the sale of arms to Riyadh has indirectly implicated the UK in this devastating war. According to The Campaign Against Arms Trade the UK have licenced over £4bn in arms sales to Saudi Arabia since its bombardment in Yemen began 3 years ago. Surely this taints the proposed trade deal between Riyadh and BAE Aerospace?

As a passionate advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, I have become all too familiar with the appalling human rights reputation the country has; mass executions, notably beheadings, torture and indefinite detainment of individuals who simply want to exercise a right we sometimes take for granted; free speech. While women’s rights have seen some progress in recent years, for example being granted the ability to drive, winning the right to vote and stand for political office, they are still forced to live day to day under the guardianship of male relatives. All women are still expected to adhere to a strict dress code in public, and there remain restrictions on women participating in sporting and cultural activities. The kind of economic progression and international presence that the Saudi government desires, will require female participation in the coming years and the British government should be doing all it can to ensure that this happens.

Controversial as the relationship may be, it is truly an unprecedented moment for both countries as they find themselves at a new crossroads in their histories. While needing one another, they can help one another. But this is also a significant moment for the UK to define its moral leadership and find opportunities to positively influence their allies post-Brexit.