US naval chief meets Bahraini army commander in Manama

MANAMA

U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer on Wednesday met with Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, commander-in-chief of the Bahrain Defense Force, to discuss military cooperation between the two countries, according to the Bahraini News Agency.

Held in capital Manama, the talks reportedly tackled means of enhancing U.S.-Bahrain relations, especially in terms of defense coordination.

Wednesday’s meeting was attended by military officials from both sides, including Bahraini Minister of Defense Affairs Abdullah al-Nuaimi.

The visit is the second of its kind by a high-ranking U.S. military official to Bahrain since the death of U.S. Fifth Fleet Commander Scott Stearney, who was found dead in his Manama home early this month.

Bahrain has long been home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, whose area of operations includes the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

One of the fleet’s primary tasks is securing the transport of oil shipments through the region.

MANAMA

Held in capital Manama, the talks reportedly tackled means of enhancing U.S.-Bahrain relations, especially in terms of defense coordination.

Wednesday’s meeting was attended by military officials from both sides, including Bahraini Minister of Defense Affairs Abdullah al-Nuaimi.

Bahrain has long been home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet, whose area of operations includes the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

One of the fleet’s primary tasks is securing the transport of oil shipments through the region.