Gulf base assures Britain a key naval presence following Brexit
BRITAIN’S ability to maintain a global military presence post-brexit has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the Royal Navy’s permanent base in the Gulf, according to one of the UK’S most senior officers.
At a time when Iran continues to pose a serious threat to the security of the oil-rich Gulf region, the HMS Juffair base at the Bahraini port of Mina Salman will enable Britain to play its part in keeping the region’s vital sea lanes open.
The £40 million base – paid for mainly by the Bahraini government – will allow the Navy to maintain a permanent presence in the region, without having to return warships to Britain every six months for routine maintenance.
The base can also be used by other British forces, such as the Army and Special Forces, to conduct operations throughout the region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Gen Sir Christopher Deverell,
‘If you want to deal with the threats, you cannot do so from a distance’
the commander of Britain’s Joint Forces Command, said the official opening of the base yesterday, where the Duke of York was the guest of honour, was an important step towards the development of “a global Britain”.
He said the establishment of Britain’s first permanent military base in the Gulf since the early Seventies would allow the UK to play an increased role in regional security.
“This is a big deal,” said Sir Christopher. “It is fairly obvious that the threats to UK forces seem to be on the increase. If you want to deal with the threats, you cannot do so from a distance. You have to be present.”
Sir Christopher said a permanent Gulf base would add significantly to Britain’s existing network of overseas bases, such as the Falklands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Diego Garcia and Singapore.
Its opening is seen as a major commitment by Britain to reviving its military presence overseas in the run-up to Brexit.
“I get a real sense of the desire of the UK to do our bit for the international rulesbased order,” said Sir Christopher. “We need to do our part to ensure the sea lanes are kept open.”