Bahrain will continue to create “alliances against terrorists” as part of its commitment to maintaining regional security, stressed a senior diplomat.
Bahrain’s Ambassador to the US Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa was speaking as the kingdom prepares to host a major maritime security summit scheduled for next week to highlight challenges facing the free flow of trade in regional waters.
In an op-ed published in The Washington Times, Shaikh Abdulla spoke about Iranian threats to maritime security and how Bahrain has backed global alliances to counter these challenges.
“The kingdom of Bahrain is an important US ally in the fight to combat terrorism,” said Shaikh Abdulla.
“We oppose Iranian regime aggression and work with our partners to maintain the free-flowing exchange of goods worldwide.
“That is why Bahrain is hosting a highly anticipated international maritime security summit later this month in which its partners will further strengthen their capacity to support peace and security in the Arabian Gulf and in the rest of the world.”
The GDN previously reported that the US, along with Poland, will hold the meeting in Bahrain next Sunday and Monday which will be attended by experts from around the world to specifically discuss Iranian threats to maritime navigation.
It will be similar to February’s Warsaw Summit, which included more than 60 countries, to promote freedom of navigation and the detection of threats emanating from an “increasingly belligerent Iranian government”.
The high-level meeting will coincide with the first two days of the world’s largest maritime exercise, the US Naval Forces Central Command’s International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 19.
The multi-naval exercise led by the US Navy Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, and its allies will see participation from more than 40 nations.
“The United States has described the exercise as the world’s most inclusive maritime exercise, designed to strengthen relationships, foster interoperability among supporting forces, and enhance theatre-wide maritime security operations,” said Shaikh Abdulla.
“Indeed, Bahrain has long been praised for our leadership in supporting international coalitions, especially those working in partnership with the US to protect Gulf shipping and to contain the dangerous Iranian regime.”
He added that such an alliance could not come at a more crucial time, with recent attacks along key maritime transit routes in the Gulf, specifically in the Strait of Hormuz through which about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude oil is transported.
“(The recent attacks) have undermined the safety of international navigation and created instability in the region,” he said.
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“Likewise, last month’s attack on oil facilities in neighbouring Saudi Arabia sent shock waves throughout the world, causing oil prices to spike.
“Taken together, what we see is not just a series of isolated events or individual attacks, but rather a larger, concerted effort by a hostile power to sew discord and wreak havoc worldwide.”
The September 14 drone and cruise missile strikes on two Saudi Aramco facilities, in Abqaiq and Khurais, have been blamed on Iran.
He said Bahrain will continue to be a key player in maintaining security in the region, pledging that the country will “host more constructive conversations and continue to create alliances against terrorists and those who support them”.
Last week Shaikh Abdulla gave a lecture at the Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, during which he highlighted the challenges faced by Bahrain from extremist groups trained and supported with money and equipment by the Iranian regime.
INTERFERENCE
Bahrain cut all diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, citing the latter’s interference in its domestic affairs. The GDN also reported last week that the Fifth Fleet was working with Bahrain and other members of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) to increase surveillance and protect shipping of partner nations.
Britain is already escorting UK-flagged merchant ships due to fears of possible attack by Iran.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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