Iraqi Navy takes part in first GCC event after three decades

The Iraqi Navy is taking part in a coalition exercise, working with naval forces from the six GCC countries, for the first time in more than three decades.

The Arabian Gauntlet exercise is the larger of two exercises held every two years. Captain Adel Hafith described their participation in the exercise as a sign of improving relations between the Gulf states and Iraq following the fall of the Iraqi regime.

"We could not participate in joint efforts with other GCC countries for a long time because of matters we had no say in," he said.

Capt Hafith expressed elation over the Iraqi participation. He said he anticipated Iraqi naval forces would participate in next year's smaller exercise.

He also emphasised the role coalition forces played, particularly the US and British forces, in helping rebuild the Iraqi navy and securing the southern offshore oil fields following the invasion.

"By the end of this month we will be taking on full responsibility of protecting Basra harbour that is currently being protected by coalition forces," he said.

Capt Hafith added the UAE had supplied the Iraqi Navy with boats to help it boost its naval presence and protect its offshore oil fields.

The Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) and Al Basra (ABOT) southern offshore oil terminals, which help provide more than 80 per cent of funds for the Iraqi Government, were fully operational in November last year. The terminals pump close to two million barrels of oil a day and are operated by Iraqis, under coalition forces' protection.

Captain Thamir Naser, Chief of Staff for operations at Umm Qasr base in the Iraqi Navy, said taking part in the exercise was an opportunity for the Iraqi Navy to work with other GCC countries and exchange expertise and skills.

"The exercise is also important for us to help us gain the necessary skills to help us protect the oil terminals," he said.

Capt Naser added the Iraqi Navy was continuing its training efforts to help it take over the role of protecting the Iraqi border.

Among the participants in the eight-day exercise, which started yesterday, is a Pakistani contingent. Pakistani mission commander, Captain Asif Saleem, described their participation in the exercise as an opportunity to cooperate with regional forces to help protect the area, which he described as the source of energy for the entire world.

He added the world had become more interdependent, and the coalition had helped contain the problem of terrorism more quickly.

The problem, according to the commander of PNS Shahjajan, Captain Abdul Aleem, was of an international scale and not specific to one country. There was the need to combat it through an international coalition. "No one country could deal with this problem alone, this is a problem faced by the entire globe," he said.

He added taking part in the exercise was an opportunity for the Pakistani Navy to prepare itself to provide maritime security for offshore platforms, as it embarked on an oil drilling programme off its shores.

The writer is a Bahraini journalist based in Manama