Pentagon chief to assure allies of US commitment in Bahrain, UAE
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will speak at the Manama Dialogue forum on Saturday morning.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Bahrain earlier today with plans to speak with a number of Middle Eastern officials amid concerns over Russia and China’s inroads in the Gulf.
While no meetings have yet been made public, the Saudi, Egyptian and Libyan foreign ministers will be in attendance at the Manama Dialogue forum, along with dozens of other senior regional officials.
Austin is set to address the forum on Saturday morning before heading to the United Arab Emirates to discuss the “two countries’ common defense priorities,” the Pentagon chief told reporters this week.
The visit marks the top US defense official’s second trip to the Gulf region in just over two months.
