US firming up relations with Middle East allies

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Report by Julia Cassano

US Transportation Command Commander, General Jacqueline Van Ovost, last week visited dignitaries, service members, and students in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait to discuss the importance of partnerships and relationships between the US and the Middle East in furthering peace, promoting stable economies, and deterring aggression within the region.

“The complexity of the region requires multi-dimensional and multi-partner solutions as we are stronger together, and we must continue to deepen our relationships with our key allies and partners,” said General Jacqueline at an online briefing yesterday.

She said that relations throughout the Middle East are just as important as they work to counter Iran and its proxies, defeat ISIS, slow Russia’s push to expand overseas military presence, and further destabilise regional security.

Throughout the visit, General Ovost discussed multiple opportunities how to enhance regional security with allies.

“We will be able to move faster and overcome challenges posed by adversaries if together we continue to leverage technological innovation and innovation of thought, concept, and process.”

She stressed the importance of emphasizing improving partners’ collective defence capabilities by building and maintaining sustainable, multilateral constructs, such as prioritizing the development of the regional security construct, the Middle East air defence initiatives, and executing the international maritime security construct.

“I return from my visit confident that our partnerships and alliances provide the necessary platform to which we can find solutions that ensure peace and security for the people of the region.”

The general also discussed US assistance to Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck both countries last week.

“We have seen how crucial close partnerships have been in enabling the United States and the broader international community to provide rapid humanitarian assistance for earthquake recovery and relief efforts in Turkey and Syria,” she said.

“Since February 6th, our partners have been working tirelessly to assess the needs on the ground and coordinate the delivery of life-saving assistance.

We immediately dispatched two urban search and rescue teams to begin the desperate search for survivors.

We have facilitated over 2,000 airlifts delivering aid and personnel, and offloading 5.4 million kilograms of international aid.”

She also stressed that the biggest concern the Middle East faces is the threats emanating from Iran, and the significance of air and missile defence.

“Iran’s aggressive and dangerous policies continue to destabilise the nation.

I encourage the different multilateral partnerships so that we can have an integrated air and missile defence against Iranian drones, in which there have been multiple strikes in the region,” she said.

General Ovost confirmed the growing strength between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the US, saying: “Bahrain is an important non-NATO ally and a gracious host to our US Naval Forces in the area.

As we know, Bahrain has paired with us in Task Force 59, which provides innovative solutions for the maritime security construct, and the network to be able to understand the threats coming into the water and the ports.

They have partnered with us in innovative ways and have shared concerns with us.”