While Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is visiting Bahrain, a U.S. official disclosed that the U.S. Navy is considering involving Israeli unmanned boats in its operations in the Middle East. This move could deepen Israel's growing role in military arrangements in the region as it normalizes relations with former adversaries in the Gulf.
The U.S. official stated that the Navy is evaluating the participation of Israeli unmanned boats in their operations. This step is likely to enhance Israel's increasing involvement in military arrangements in the region, coinciding with its normalization of relations with former Gulf adversaries.
Prime Minister Bennett's visit to Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet and several international maritime task forces, marks the first of its kind following the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2020. Bennett described his two-day visit to Manama as an opportunity to forge a common stance against Iran and its allies, such as the Houthis in Yemen, whose attacks on the UAE this year have destabilized the oil-rich region.
Bahrain, ruled by Sunni leaders, accuses Shiite Iran of fomenting unrest, a charge that Tehran denies. Officials revealed that Israel is set to become the 29th country to post a military attaché at the fleet's headquarters in Manama, adding that the yet-to-be-announced attaché is likely to hold the rank of captain or commander.
“Open Communications”
A U.S. official stated, “The goal is to keep communication lines open” on a bilateral basis between Israel and the fleet, referring to the assignment of the Israeli envoy to Bahrain. Israel has not officially confirmed the appointment.
Bennett's office reported that U.S. Fleet Deputy Commander Admiral Brad Cooper met with Bennett on Tuesday. Bennett informed him that he expects “increased cooperation between regional countries and the strong ally, the United States.” The official added, “The Israelis are certainly tasked with providing this technology,” noting that a fleet officer visited Haifa in recent weeks to study the matter. The Israeli army spokesperson had no immediate comment.
In November, forces from the UAE, Bahrain, Israel, and U.S. Central Command, based in Bahrain, participated in security exercises in the Red Sea, marking the first publicly acknowledged naval drill between the U.S., Israel, and the two Gulf nations.
