Bahrain honored the foundation of the country’s defense forces with celebrations at several embassies around the world. Sheikh Hamoud bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, ambassador of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a reception at the embassy in Riyadh attended by prominent Saudi leaders.
Bahraini Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa held a celebratory luncheon at the Army & Navy Club in London. That ceremony was attended by Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the British Parliament’s Defense Committee.
The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) was established in 1968 during the reign of His Majesty Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. It consists of 18,000 personnel divided into branches that include the Royal Bahraini Air Force, the Royal Guard and the Royal Bahraini Navy. Its commander in chief is Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
The BDF’s responsibilities include national defense, cyber security, assisting police in maintaining order, handling disasters, counterterrorism, humanitarian operations, and partnering with regional and international partners in maintaining security.
At the anniversary celebration in London, Ellwood expressed British support for military cooperation with Bahrain to preserve freedom of navigation in places such as the Arabian Gulf. Sources: www.mofa.gov, https://bna.bh/news, www.alayam.com