To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether basing United Kingdom warships in Bahrain is compatible with that country's human rights record.
Answered on
15 July 2015
The UK has had a naval presence in Bahrain since the 1950s which has supported naval patrols operating in and around the Gulf. Under a new arrangement signed in December 2014 by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), the UK and Bahrain agreed to working together to enhance the existing facilities at the port. This arrangement is fully in accordance with the UK's international human rights obligations, which the Government takes extremely seriously.
The UK greatly values its partnership with Bahrain on regional security issues, which forms an important part of our wider bilateral relationship with the Government of Bahrain. In addition, we are providing a range of technical assistance to support the Government of Bahrain in its reform programme, aimed at strengthening human rights and the rule of law.