The US, the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel are holding joint military exercises in the Red Sea, the US Navy said Thursday. It marks the first official exercise between Israel and the two Gulf nations and comes just over a year after they normalized relations.
The exercises began on November 1oth and will be held for five days. “The five-day exercise includes at-sea training aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) focused on visit, board, search and seizure tactics,” the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet said in a statement.
One purpose of the US-brokered normalization deals was to further isolate Iran in the region, and the Red Sea exercises are a clear message to Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reportedly floated the idea of creating an anti-Iran NATO-style alliance that includes Israel and the Gulf states in his meeting with President Biden back in August.
The drills also come after the US formally moved Israel under US Central Command’s area of operations. Previously, Israel fell under US European Command because so many of Washington’s Arab allies did not recognize Israel. The Trump administration ordered the change in January, and Israel sent a representative to CENTCOM headquarters in October, solidifying the move.
Arab states love money and embrace Israeli apartheid.
Those ones are just US vassals
The Arab states and Israel are comprised of the same people- both love money and neither have a problem with slave holding. And both realize that the Iranians are morally superior to them – which unites them in hatred and fear of Iran.
Remember the Liberty!
Bless the pilot who refused to attack the U.S.S. Liberty.
Court marshaled from what I hear.
They’re trying to simulate a response to Iran closing the Gulf. In addition to preventing the closure of the Straits they need to invade and occupy the coast. Otherwise insurance would be impossible.
“Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reportedly floated the idea of creating an anti-Iran NATO-style alliance that includes Israel and the Gulf states in his meeting with President Biden back in August.”
And I bet he wants the US to pay for whatever the bribe might cost to get those countries, that secretly despise Israel, on board.
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What rights do any of these countries have to board and search vessels in international sea routes?
They can be repelled the same as pirates?
What is the message? It’s not at all clear.
Wouldn’t the message be clearer –and far cheaper — sent by phone or fax or email or airmail?
The message is not to Iran. The message is to the region struggling to pull away from US influence. Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have made their moves towards Eurasian integration and closer ties to China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and India. Turkey joined in 2013, Egypt and Saudi Arabia this summer.
Ethiopia has tried to remove Tigray influence over the politics, reliably US supportive. About 7 mil people region controlling a nation of over 130,000. Now, other militants are joining Tigray forces, clearly, we are supporting them against elected government. And in show of support, Erythrean government was sanctioned for its unfriendly acts agains Tigray. Can we be more transparent?
Sudan, another set-back for “civilian” “democratic” rule. A military move ousted the “democrats” that were eyeing power BEFORE election. Now, Israel is angling to get its supporter in new government. Sure, but what looked like a sure deal — no more. Watch sanctions come back!
Both UAE and Bahrain are friends out of fear for their particular situation.
So, this message to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Sudan and Ethiopia — is from US and Israel.
It may become crowded in Red Sea — when Russian naval base opens in Port Sudan.