Bahrain’s navy joined forces with its US and Saudi counterparts as it participated in a joint exercise in the Arabian Gulf to deter maritime threats including those from state-sponsored actors.
Royal Bahrain Naval Force missile corvette Al Manama (P 50) took part in the fourth edition of the recently concluded Sentinel Shield, alongside the US Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Force.
Saudi patrol boat Al Farouq (513), and US Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) tested communications systems and capabilities and conducted tactical manoeuvres with the Bahraini navy force.
Threats
It was organised by the Bahrain-based International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), set up in July 2019 in response to an increase in threats to vessels at sea, especially from Iran.
The kingdom, along with eight other nations, form part of the coalition and has deployed personnel and other assets to IMSC operation arm – Coalition Task Force(CTF) Sentinel, as part of the international surveillance and detection effort.
“Exercise Sentinel Shield is intended to increase the ability of CTF Sentinel partner nations to seamlessly operate together, growing their competencies in deterring state-sponsored malign activity around the region,” stated the IMSC.
CTF Sentinel commanding officer Commodore Adrian Fryer said the expertise by their regional partners in the joint exercises is invaluable.
“These partners bring unique, extensive local knowledge and an ability to communicate effectively with the regional shipping industry and each other which is the lynchpin to this coalition’s success,” said Commodore Fryer.
Meanwhile, USS Monterey commanding officer Captain Joseph Baggett highlighted the importance of interoperability among CTF Sentinel partners for mission success.
“Consistent operations and training with regional partners are vital to enhancing the existing co-operative relationships between US and coalition forces,” said Captain Baggett.
“Each exercise fosters greater understanding between allied navies enabling them to sustain maritime domain awareness which safeguards the region’s vital links to the global economy.”
More than 17,000 ships per year pass through the Bab El Mandeb Strait, between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa, and more than 42,000 ships per year pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf.
Last year, US Navy vessels, deployed under the Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet, escorted more than 1,000 ships through the two critical chokepoints and the Suez Canal.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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