Manama: A joint GCC naval force could be patrolling international waters from the Arabian Gulf to as far away as the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, in a matter of months.
It will be known as Task Force 81 and will be charged with ensuring the security of international waters, also including the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Former head of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral John Miller said the US Navy would support the joint GCC task force once it was launched.
“As the GCC stands up Task Force 81, which is the GCC task force for maritime security, (we will consider) how do we partner with them to make the Gulf a safe place to live and work,” he said.
“There are indications they are going to stand it up we think this year, we are not entirely certain of the timeline that they are actually on, but we are keenly interested in being able to help them when they do stand it up and work with them.”
It will be the first time the navies of the six GCC countries have come together in this way.
“It’s a maritime security task force, it’s how they pool their assets in order to create maritime security,” explained Vice Admiral Miller.
“Their area of operation will be larger than the Gulf so it will include (Combined Task Force) 152’s battle space, which is the Gulf, but also (Combined Task Force) 150, which is the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as well.”
He acknowledged that it was a reflection of the GCC getting more involved collectively in the security of the region.
“Sure, it’s what the GCC I think has always been meant to be,” he said.
“It’s collective security, so I think it’s a brilliant idea and however we can help (we will).”
However, he said it was unlikely that the US could increase its involvement in the Yemen conflict – in which Gulf countries are waging war against Houthi rebels in a bid to restore the government of exiled president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
“We (the US) are involved to a certain extent and have been since the beginning in terms of providing intelligence information, logistics and some command and control,” he said.
“I don’t see that changing. We have been somewhat supportive and share a common goal in seeing the legitimate government of Yemen restored.
“I don’t sense that there will be a change in US policy, but what we do share I think is a desire to see the violence in Yemen come to a close and to see all parties return to the negotiating table so that we can negotiate a settlement that results in the legitimate government being restored and an immediate infusion of humanitarian aid.
“There are close to 20 million Yemenis in desperate straits and in immediate need of humanitarian relief. We share those goals with the Saudis.”
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