The Gulf is a key part of the Strategic Defence Review
3 min read
The Strategic Defence Review provides a unique opportunity for the UK and Bahrain to further strengthen their historic relationship.
As the UK government conducts its Strategic Defence Review to reshape the country's defence priorities amid global security challenges, the current focus has understandably centred on Ukraine due to its geographic proximity. However, the UK should not overlook the strategic significance of the Gulf region, particularly its longstanding alliance with Bahrain.
The UK maintains substantial military presence in the Gulf, with up to 500 Royal Navy personnel stationed at the £40m naval support facility in Mina Salman, Bahrain, along with an additional 400 military personnel. There are also 1,000 military personnel in Oman, and more forces across other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
The GCC provides a key market for British defence procurement. The economic significance is equally important, with GCC countries collectively spending approximately $120bn on defence in 2024.
Iran poses a real security threat to the UK, as recently highlighted in Parliament by Security Minister Dan Jarvis MP. Many Gulf nations have long confronted this threat from Iran and its proxies, making international cooperation essential. The past year witnessed Houthi threats to international shipping and trade in the Red Sea, underscoring regional instability.
Bahrain demonstrated its commitment as a key ally by joining the UK-led coalition against the Houthis, becoming the only Arab or Muslim country to formally support both Operation Prosperity Guardian (securing freedom of navigation in the Red Sea) and Operation Poseidon Archer (targeting Houthi capabilities in Yemen). Furthermore, Bahrain has led multiple task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces, a 46-nation maritime partnership engaging in counter-piracy and arms trafficking prevention throughout the Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea.
The UK recently strengthened ties with Bahrain and the US when it joined the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), enhancing security and economic partnerships. A Strategic Investment Partnership agreed in 2023 has already generated £1bn of Bahraini investment in the UK. UK-GCC combined trade currently stands at approximately £57bn, with projections suggesting a 16 per cent increase to at least £65bn following the free trade agreement — making it the UK's fourth-largest trade partner.
The SDR presents numerous opportunities for collaboration. The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) requires significant investment and resource pooling between partners, potentially offering Bahrain opportunities to invest in the supply chain. The SDR will likely prioritise the military's contribution to the UK National Cyber Force and improving national cyber defence — another area for potential collaboration. The two most notable cyber incidents in the region in the last decade were Shamoon 2012 and Triton 2017, highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to capable threat actors.
The SDR provides an opportunity for the UK to strengthen its historic strategic defence relationship with Bahrain and other Gulf nations amid rapidly evolving regional security challenges.
Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa is the Kingdom of Bahrain's Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
