Envoy hails strategic ties between Bahrain and US

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States of America, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, visited the American Lockheed Martin Company, the world leader in the field of military equipment.

The ambassador inspected the production process of the first F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Royal Bahraini Air Force, within the framework of the combat aircraft purchase agreement signed during the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to Washington in November 2017, within the programme of continuous development of the Bahrain Defence Force.

In his speech during his visit, the ambassador expressed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pride in the strategic partnership with the friendly United States of America in the defence and security fields within the framework of a common commitment to maintain international peace and security, adding that the defence relations between the two countries are deep and distinguished, which, he said, is reflected in the successful cooperation by building a new F-16 fleet.

He noted that the day coincides with the celebration of the Commemoration Day in Bahrain, which is similar to the United States Memorial Day, commemorates the fallen soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for their homeland.

He pointed out that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was able to make the relations of the Kingdom of Bahrain with the United States of America a high priority, and this is what we felt by Washington as well, noting that “peace in the region is peace outside the region”, adding that the Kingdom of Bahrain has hosted the command of the US Fifth Fleet, over the past thirty years, as well as joint exercises and a defence cooperation agreement, which is a clear indication of the ongoing work of the Kingdom of Bahrain to combat piracy, extremism and terrorism.

He also indicated that these joint measures confirm the importance of joint work, and that the Kingdom of Bahrain is proud of its fruitful history of cooperation with the American Lockheed Martin Corporation, praising the corporation’s constant eagerness to participate in the Bahrain Airshow in addition to providing platforms and training.

Vice-president and general manager of Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, Bridget Lauderdale, said that the partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the group had started more than 40 years ago, noting that the Kingdom is the first country in the Gulf region to obtain F-16 and the first country in the world to obtain the newest and most advanced F-16F- 16 Block 70.