Bahrain Hosts Military Conference on Gulf Navigation Security

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
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Bahrain Hosts Military Conference on Gulf Navigation Security

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defense (MOD) shows the Stena Important (L) being accompanied by the British Navy frigate HMS Montrose (R) through the Strait of Hormuz, 25 July 2019. The Royal Navy has started providing escort for British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero. EPA/MOD/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

Bahrain hosted a conference on Gulf maritime security on Wednesday, after multiple attacks on shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz sent tensions soaring between Iran and the US.

Manama said the meeting was held "to discuss the current regional situation and to strengthen cooperation".

In a statement, it slammed "the repeated attacks and unacceptable practices of Iran and the terrorist groups linked to it."

In light of the recent challenges and threats facing the region, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation, calling upon the international community to assume its role in deterring all threats that target international security and peace.

The closed-door meeting was confirmed by the British Defense Ministry and a spokesman for the US Marines' 5th Fleet on Tuesday. The ministry declined to give details about the agenda, but said that "several international partners" would be participating.

The Guardian reported this week that the UK had called for the meeting in Bahrain with other European countries and the US. 

Bahrain said earlier this month that it and the US would co-host another conference on "maritime and air navigation security", set for October.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday that his country will not participate in a US-led naval security mission in the Gulf.

Washington asked Berlin to help safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's recent seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker.

"The German government will not take part in the maritime mission presented and planned by the United States," Maas said while on an official trip to Poland.

He said Germany disagreed with Washington's approach towards Iran and is not seeking a military escalation to the crisis.

The US and Britain have been seeking to establish a mission to prevent Iran from seizing further oil tankers, after Tehran impounded the British-flagged Stena Impero and the Panama-flagged MT Riah in mid-July in the Strait of Hormuz.

Several EU member states have expressed an interest in the proposal to ensure safe travel of cargo.



Ukrainian President to Visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
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Ukrainian President to Visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed upon his arrival in the UAE. (AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, one day after a meeting there between top Russian and US officials, the Ukrainian leader’s spokesman told AFP.

Zelenskyy had announced the trip along with stops the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Türkiye last week without giving dates, adding he had no plans to meet Russian or US officials.

Sergiy Nykyforov said Zelenskyy would visit Saudi Arabia with his wife as part of a “long-planned” official visit.

His trip will come one day after Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets US officials as part of what the Kremlin says are efforts to repair Moscow’s ties with Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed on Monday in Saudi Arabia where he met with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Earlier on Monday, Zelenskyy was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi for talks on bilateral relations.

Sheikh Mohamed hoped Zelenskyy’s visit would further boost bilateral relations across various sectors, reported the UAE’s state news agency (WAM).   

The leaders discussed various aspects of cooperation, particularly in the fields of the economy, investment, development, renewable energy, and food security, as well as other areas aligned with both countries’ developmental priorities.   

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to fostering effective international partnerships across different sectors to achieve shared progress and prosperity.   

He underlined the UAE’s consistent approach of supporting peaceful solutions to crises, underscoring that development can only be achieved in a stable environment. He reiterated the UAE’s commitment to backing all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict and continuing initiatives to mitigate its humanitarian impact.   

He thanked Zelenskyy for the Ukrainian government’s cooperation in supporting the UAE’s mediation efforts in the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia. He noted that this collaboration reflects confidence in the UAE’s role in alleviating the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.   

For his part, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering cooperation between Ukraine and the UAE, highlighting the numerous opportunities available across various sectors. He expressed his appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed for the UAE’s sustained diplomatic efforts in facilitating prisoner exchanges and its humanitarian focus on the crisis.   

Zelenskyy traveled to the UAE late Sunday as momentum grows for potential peace talks ending Moscow's war on the country.