Saudi Arabia and Bahrain began the bilateral naval exercise
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Roshan Amiri
- . December 26, 2022
- . Update: December 26, 2022 3:19 pm
The naval forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Bahrain began bilateral maritime training in Bahrain on Sunday.
The Saudi Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that the Royal Saudi Navy, represented by the Eastern Fleet, and the Royal Bahraini Navy launched the “Bridge 23” exercise in the presence of Royal Bahraini Navy Cmdr. Rear Adm. Mohammed Al-Assam and a military attache at the Saudi Embassy to Bahrain, Brig. Gen. Fahad Al-Thunayan.
Col. Ahmed Al-Osaimi, the director of the naval exercise, expressed happiness over the joint naval exercise. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the maritime exercise has the purpose to increase the combat readiness of the naval forces, standardising tactical concepts and helping in the implementation of joint operations.
Col. Ahmed Al-Osaimi reportedly said that the maritime exercise would raise the efficiency of communication procedures in the Royal Saudi Navy and the Royal Bahraini Navy. It would also increase security cooperation between the two countries, according to SPA.
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Earlier this month, the two countries signed an executive program for a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr Abdullatif Al-Sheikh and Bahraini Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf Nawaf Al Maawda in Manama agreed to hold two workshops in the fields of spreading moderation and rejecting radicalism and extremism. The two countries also agreed to exchange laws and regulations in the fields of preparing imams and drafting sermons.
In August, Native Fury 22, a military exercise in Saudi Arabia involving the Royal Saudi Armed Forces and the United States Marine Corps was started in the field of communications, field medicine and a life-saving combat exercise.
The trade between the two countries reached $2.91 billion in 2020. Saudi Arabia exported $1.85 billion to Bahrain in 2020. Bahrain exported $1.71 billion to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
The tourism and trade links between the two countries also grew 43 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2020.
