Naval Support Facility to counter terrorist threats
Manama : The inauguration of the British Naval Support Facility (NSF) in Bahrain will reinforce the ability of Manama to defend the Gulf region, according Shaikh Fawz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
“With the region continuing to face difficult times, the British return to East of Suez is a reassuring sign that our countries remain steadfast friends and allies, with strong diplomatic, military and trade relations,” Shaikh Fawaz said in an opinion piece he wrote for the Daily Telegraph.
“Such co-operation is vital in the face of the extremist and terrorist threats facing us all today. These threats are felt particularly strongly across the Gulf States, where we have seen Isil rise out of power vacuums in Iraq and Syria into a regional and international threat,” he said.
However, the ambassador said that the Gulf is not only a region of challenges, but also of opportunities.
“The Government of Bahrain is committed to strong and effective cooperation and partnership with the UK across all fields,” he wrote.
Shaikh Fawaz added that the visit by the Prince of Wales to Bahrain this week was “a fitting way to mark the 200th anniversary of Anglo-Bahraini cooperation but, more importantly, it is a reaffirmation of the UK’s commitment to the Gulf, and to Bahrain in particular.”
NSF second busiest centre
“The NSF will be the second busiest centre of operations for the Royal Navy after Portsmouth. It will allow the British Navy to re-crew, resupply and undergo repairs in the Gulf without having to return to the UK or other ports, saving time and reducing costs,” he mentioned.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had outlined the Council’s interest in a free trade agreement between the UK and the GCC during his visit to London last month.
“This would significantly increase the UK’s access to the GCC’s £1.3 trillion market; a market estimated to grow by a further £400 billion by 2020. Bilateral trade between Bahrain and the UK generated £432 million in 2015 alone, an increase of 35 per cent from the previous year. And the Kingdom is firmly committed to expanding these mutually beneficial trade relations,” he said.
Bahrain already hosts a large number of British companies: 500 British brands, 90 British company branches, and 350 Bahraini-British business partnerships. These businesses operate in some of Bahrain’s key sectors, including banking, accounting and law.
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