The meeting focused on regional trends as well as new capabilities to combat our shared threats, the ministry of defence said…reports Asian Lite News.
The Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter on Monday hosted a meeting of the Dragon Group at Lancaster House with partners from the Gulf and wider Middle East region.
The Dragon Group, named after its first meeting aboard HMS Dragon in 2018, is an annual meeting of Defence Chiefs from the Middle East.
The Carrier Strike Group is continuing its journey to the Indo-Pacific. ⚓
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 5, 2021
The Group has joined #NATO exercises, conducted counter-Daesh sorties and been welcomed by friends and allies at ports.
⬇️ Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP updates the House on CSG’s latest activities. pic.twitter.com/97U9y7SFym
The meeting focused on regional trends as well as new capabilities to combat our shared threats, the ministry of defence said.
“Today’s Dragon Group meeting of the military leaders from the GCC, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan was a tremendous opportunity to discuss common challenges, share best practice and take a view on how we chart a common approach to the future,” said General Sir Nick Carter said.
“The UK Armed Forces hugely value our partnerships in the Middle East and we stand with our friends in seeking to create a stable and prosperous region,” he added.
The ministry said UK’s security relationships in the Gulf run deep.
“We routinely have over 1,000 military personnel in the region, in addition to aircraft and ships. Our Defence partnerships help us mount counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and counter-smuggling operations that keep everyone safe,” it said.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will soon enter the Middle East to further bolster the commitment to regional security, including carrying out operations against Daesh from Britain’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The Earl of Wessex attended a lunch with the Dragon Group guests.
Members of the Dragon Group include Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Today’s meeting was held in line with COVID-19 regulations.
The ministry of defence also announced that the Chief of the Defence Staff will host the inaugural bi-lateral Military Cooperation Committee meeting with the Saudi Defence Chief. The Military Cooperation Committee is a forum for discussing bi-lateral military cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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