Bahrain: Britain's new naval base HMS Juffair will be formally opened next year while some units at the facility will be operational in the coming months.
The base, under construction near the US Fifth Fleet Naval headquarters in Mina Salman, is an ambitious project that reflected UK’s strong relations with the kingdom, according to a visiting British minister.
“We are grateful to Bahrain authorities for setting up the HMS Juffair that will allow aircraft carriers and destroyers,” said UK Minister for Middle East and North Africa Tobias Ellwood.
“We will work with Bahrainis to make Gulf a safer place.
“For us it is critical that we are now returning with a significant maritime footprint and will work hand in glove with Bahrain.”
He was speaking during a Press conference at the British Embassy yesterday.
“The new base is an exciting chapter in military co-operation and we are anticipating it to open next year as this is an important aspect of British strategic policy.
“There are many British companies that have interest in Bahrain and Gulf, so your security is our security.”
Work has been ongoing since the ground-breaking ceremony was held at the base in November by UK Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond and his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
The £15 million base will add to the UK´s already strong defensive presence in the region, with military assets including Royal Air Force Tornado aircraft, mine hunters, a remotely-piloted air system, Hercules transport aircraft, air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft.
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