HRH Crown Prince holds phone call with US Defence Secretary

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday held a telephone call with the United States’ Secretary of Defence, Mark Thomas Esper.

During the call, the long-standing strategic relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America was discussed, in addition to the importance of continuing efforts to enhance security, stability and development in the region towards a lasting peace.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed Bahrain stances in light of recent regional developments. “Bahraini Crown Prince and I underscored the importance of countering Iran’s malign influence and threats to the region. I thanked him for his partnership in protecting American personnel and facilities in Bahrain,” he tweeted.

Hundreds of US soldiers were deployed Saturday from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Kuwait to serve as reinforcements in the Middle East amid rising tensions following the US killing of a top Iranian general.

Lt Col Mike Burns, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, told The Associated Press 3,500 members of the division’s quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, will have deployed within a few days.

The most recent group of service members to deploy will join about 700 who left earlier in the week, Burns said.