BDF Chief receives US Defence Secretary

Manama, Oct.28 (BNA): Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa today received US Defence Secretary Mark Thomas Esper and the accompanying delegation. Defence Affairs Minister Lieutenant-General Abdulla bin Hassan Al-Nuaimi, BDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Dheyab bin Saqr Al-Nuaimi Defence Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Major-General Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa attended.. The BDF Chief welcomed the US Defence Secretary and the accompanying delegation, hailing decades-long historic strategic bonds and continued cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the USA in all fields, specially military ties. The meeting focused on ways of further strengthening steadily-growing relations in all fields to serve the common interests of the two friendly countries and peoples. The BDF Chief discussed with the US minister regional and international issues, stressing continued military coordination and defence cooperation between the two friendly countries to support the pillars of security and stability in the region. Issues of common interest also came under the spotlight. In attendance were BDF General Command director Major-General Hassan Mohammed Saad, BDF Assistant Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Yussef Ahmed Malallah, BDF Assistant Chief of Staff for Human Resources Major-General Shaikh Ali bin Rashid Al-Khalifa, Royal Bahrain Airforce Commander Air Vice-Marshal Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, BDF Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations Major-General Ghanim Ibrahim Al-Fadhala, Royal Bahrain Naval Force Commander Rear Admiral Mohammed Youssef Al-Asam and other senior officers.