To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times Royal Navy vessels have stopped in Bahrain since 2014; and what those vessels were.
Answered on
17 October 2019
The UK Naval Support Facility (UK NSF) in the Kingdom of Bahrain demonstrates our strong and enduring bilateral relationship. It supports our deployed naval force in the Gulf, providing maritime security for Bahrain, the wider region, and the global economy. The facility provides engineering and logistics support to maritime units, and can host contingent forces for short periods. Through our presence at the UK NSF, the Royal Navy benefits from sustained use of Mina Salman Port which enables our personnel and vessels to undertake naval operations in the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The UK maintains a long-standing maritime presence in the Gulf, currently including four Mine Counter Measure Vessels (HMS LEDBURY, HMS BLYTH, HMS SHOREHAM, and HMS BROCKLEBY), two Type 23 frigates (HMS MONTROSE, HMS KENT), two Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels (RFA CARDIGAN, RFA WAVE KNIGHT) and one Type 45 Destroyer (HMS DEFENDER). These vessels regularly use the UK NSF.