Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), held a meeting today with Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, and Air Marshal Martin Elliot Sampson, UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the 19th edition of the IISS-Manama Dialogue.

Lieutenant-General Abdulla bin Hassan Al Noaimi, the Minister of Defence Affairs, was also in attendance.

The commander-in-chief commended the enduring and distinguished Bahraini-UK relations, expressing appreciation for the ongoing collaboration in defense matters.

During the meeting, the BDF Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the UK Defence Staff formalized their commitment by signing a Declaration of Intent between Bahrain, the BDF, and the UK Armed Forces.

The primary objective of the Declaration of Intent is to enhance military cooperation between the two nations, with the intention of establishing a comprehensive cooperation agreement that will further strengthen their joint relations.