First Joint Naval Exercise: US, UAE, Bahrain and Israel

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are holding their first joint naval exercise with Israel, a year after normalising ties with the Jewish state, the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea.

Context

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are holding their first joint naval exercise with Israel, a year after normalising ties with the Jewish state, the U.S. Navy in the Red Sea.

Key Points

• The UAE and Bahrain in 2020 normalised diplomatic relations with Israel under a US-brokered deal known as the Abraham Accords, brought together by shared worries about Iran and hopes of economic gains.
• The US 5th Fleet/NAVCENT is based in the Gulf island state of Bahrain and operates in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
• Since February 2021, Iran and Israel have been accused of engaging in what analysts have called a "shadow war", in which vessels linked to each nation have come under attack in waters around the Gulf in tit-for-tat exchanges.
• Negotiations between Iran and major powers (P5+1) on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal will resume in Vienna on 29th November 2021, with failure carrying the risk of a sharp spike in regional tensions.
• The five-day exercise in the Red Sea is intended to enhance interoperability between participating forces.
• Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability.
• The exercises include boarding, search and seizure training on the USS Portland, an amphibious transport dock ship.