CENTCOM chief holds regional security talks with 12 countries in Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper met with senior military officials from 12 countries on Wednesday at a regional security dialogue hosted by the Bahraini armed forces. The talks brought together defense leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to a CENTCOM statement. Participants discussed the current security situation in the Middle East and ways to strengthen defense cooperation. The officials reiterated their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, the command said. Cooper stated that the United States continues to stand alongside its regional partners and that the discussions affirmed a commitment to regional security and stability. CENTCOM said the United States and its regional partners operate the most advanced and largest integrated air and missile defense system in the Middle East. In January, CENTCOM and regional states established a new Middle East Air Defense Coordination Cell to share information, threat warnings and emergency response capabilities. The statement noted that Syrian and Lebanese military leaders took part in a U.S.-led regional defense conference for the first time.