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Britain
UK building first permanent Middle East base since 1971
2015-11-02
[Ynet] The military base in Bahrain is aimed at helping Britannia and its allies "reinforce stability in the Gulf and beyond," says British Foreign Secretary.
An interesting decision, given they're still downsizing their military to get closer to balancing their budget.
For the first time since before the Yom Kippur War, the UK is to have a permanent military base in the Middle East, the BBC reported Sunday. The base, which is being built at Mina Salman Port in Bahrain, is intended to support deployments of Royal Navy vessels in the Gulf.

The BBC reported from the inauguration of the HMS Juffair, which is also being built at the port. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, acknowledging Bahrain's record of alleged human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
 abuses, said at the event that "Bahrain is not perfect by any means, but at least it knows what it has to do and how to do it."

He also referred to the fact that the Bahraini government is seeking Britannia's help with reforming its judiciary, police force and prison service, the BBC report continues.

According to Hammond, the new base will help Britannia and its allies "to reinforce stability in the Gulf and beyond."

Bahrain is a Shia-majority Gulf state with a ruling Sunni minority. In 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, Shi'ites began demonstrating in mass popular protests against the regime. Many of the protests were suppressed by police violence, mass arrests and alleged torture of detainees.
Posted by:trailing wife

#5  Need to open a large "base" in southern Libya or there abouts to house all those trying to get into the UK via the Chunnel. Could make some coin renting space to France, Italy, Hungary, etc.
Posted by: AlanC   2015-11-02 12:32  

#4  My guess is the host nation will pick up the tab.

For men, material and transporting same from the far side of the world in addition to providing the site?
Posted by: trailing wife   2015-11-02 10:58  

#3  Qatar seems to the host to many radicals atm.
Posted by: paul   2015-11-02 04:17  

#2  My guess is the host nation will pick up the tab. Smart move actually. If things get a bit wobbly in the nearby Magic Kingdom, Emir Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa has an insurance policy.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-11-02 03:24  

#1  Odd.

...but at least it knows what it has to do and how to do it."

Supporting a minority (sunni) totalitarian regime?
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2015-11-02 03:16  

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