UAE, Bahrain, Israel and US start first naval drill after normalising ties

Gulf countries, the UAE and Bahrain, conducted their first joint naval drill with the US and Israel since they normalised ties with Israel last year.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

11 November, 2021

The five-day exercise will 'enhance interoperability between participating forces' maritime interdiction teams' [Stock Image, source: Getty]

Forces from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel and the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) began a multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea on Wednesday, NAVCENT said on Thursday.

This is the first publicly acknowledged naval exercise between the United States, Israel and the two Gulf countries.

The UAE and Bahrain last year normalised diplomatic relations with Israel under a US-brokered deal known as the Abraham Accords.

The five-day exercise includes training on the USS Portland vessel and will "enhance interoperability between participating forces' maritime interdiction teams", the statement said.

"Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

The US 5th Fleet is based in the Gulf island state of Bahrain and operates in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.