Kuwait, Qatar to Join US-Led Naval Coalition

Gulf

November 26th, 7:57am

London - Asharq Al-Awsat

This handout photo, released by the US Navy on November 4, shows an aerial view of an International Maritime Exercise 2019, at an unknown location at sea in the Gulf (AFP photo)

A US military official announced on Monday that Qatar and Kuwait told Washington that they will join a US-led naval coalition in the Gulf, established to respond to a series of attacks on oil tankers this year. “Qatar and Kuwait have already told us they are going to join, so it is just a matter of time,” said US Army Colonel John Conklin, chief of staff of the coalition. The naval coalition, based out of Bahrain and known as the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), was formed after a series of attacks launched earlier this year, intensifying the risk of disorder to Gulf oil exports shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Conklin said the two countries are expected to provide personnel and patrol boats. “The United States was in talks with Canada about joining the initiative,” said Conklin. The US military officer spoke during a trip to the Middle East by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday. In a related development, the Dutch news agency ANP said the Netherlands would contribute a ship to a French-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz for a six-month period starting in January, citing government sources. The news agency said that the government would officially announce its contribution to the French-led mission next Friday. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Saturday the initiative could start early next year and around 10 European and non-European governments would join, pending parliamentary approvals. She did not name the countries. France has called for a European security alternative in the Strait of Hormuz after ruling out joining the US-led coalition to protect tankers and cargo ships from Iranian threats. Denmark, Italy and Spain are among countries that have previously expressed interest in joining the French-led initiative.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2008811/kuwait-qatar-join-us-led-naval-coalition