| An interesting decision, given they're still downsizing their military to get closer to balancing their budget. |
The BBC reported from the inauguration of the HMS Juffair, which is also being built at the port. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, acknowledging Bahrain's record of alleged human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal
liberty...
abuses, said at the event that "Bahrain is not perfect by any means, but at least it knows what it has to do and how to do it."
He also referred to the fact that the Bahraini government is seeking Britannia's help with reforming its judiciary, police force and prison service, the BBC report continues.
According to Hammond, the new base will help Britannia and its allies "to reinforce stability in the Gulf and beyond."
Bahrain is a Shia-majority Gulf state with a ruling Sunni minority. In 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, Shi'ites began demonstrating in mass popular protests against the regime. Many of the protests were suppressed by police violence, mass arrests and alleged torture of detainees.