British Base in Bahrain Signifies Manama’s Lack of Trust in Washington: Cleric


British Base in Bahrain Signifies Manama’s Lack of Trust in Washington: Cleric

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The representative of prominent Bahraini cleric Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim in Iran said the establishment of a British naval base in Bahrain shows that Manama is unsure about Washington’s support for the Persian Gulf country.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Sheikh Abdullah Daqaq said the US Navy’s 5th Fleet is located in Bahrain, adding that however, a British naval base has also been established in the Arab kingdom.

“The Bahraini government’s sense of uncertainty about Washington has made the Al Khalifa regime to seek British presence in the country,” he noted.

The cleric also pointed to Bahraini government’s measures to promote ties with Westerners and normalize relations with the Israeli regime, saying the measures are rooted in the Al Khalifa regime’s fear of the revolutionary people of the Persian Gulf country.    

Back in 2015, Britain began the construction of a new Royal Navy facility in Bahrain, which became the first permanent British military base in the Middle East in over four decades.

That is while, Bahrain has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.

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