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UK returns to the Middle East with a permanent Royal Navy base in Bahrain.

3 Nov, 2015 8:52 | 2015

Naval Forces News - UK

UK returns to the Middle East with a permanent Royal Navy base in Bahrain

The United Kingdom has returned to the Middle East with a new permanent base in Bahrain. It is the first one since 1971. The inaugural works started with the setting of the cornerstone from the British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, and his Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The new base will be name HMS Juffair and will be based at Mina Salman Port.

Photo source: Philip Hammond's twitter account

The new Royal Navy base in the Persian Gulf is a show of the UK's commitment to regional stability. It will be able to initially support four British minesweepers and at a later stage vessels of bigger size, such as destroyers and frigates. Around 80 people will be stationed there. Until now, the Royal Navy has been using the US Navy's 6th Fleet installations at the same port. From autumn 2016, when the base will be completed, all British personnel will be relocated.

The new base has been opposed in the past by Jeremy Corbyn, the new Labour leader, other politicians and human rights organizations, due to Bahrain's record in human rights violations, according to Amnesty International. Philip Hammond who spoke at the BBC, has admitted that Bahrain "is not perfect by any means but the ruling family is taking steps to improve" the record.

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UK returns to the Middle East with a permanent Royal Navy base in Bahrain.