SL Ambassador discusses cooperation with US Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr A. Saj U. Mendis, met with Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, US Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces at the Office based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

Both the Ambassador and the Admiral discussed and broached of closer cooperation and collaboration between the Combined Maritime Forces and Sri Lanka Navy, thus benefiting and securing the respective regions with greater degree of efficacy. 

During the discussions, Admiral was accompanied by his Deputy Commander of Combined Maritime Forces, Commodore Will Warrender of Royal Navy. Admiral Donegan also stated that Sri Lanka, being an island state located in a highly strategic location in the Indian Ocean, proactive maritime cooperation and collaboration were imperative to secure the pivotal and seminal sea lanes adjacent to Sri Lanka.

The US Naval Forces Central Command known as NAVCENT is the United States Navy element of United States Central Command. Its primary responsibility includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. It consists of the United States Fifth Fleet and a number of other task forces and is based in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), established in February of 2002, consists of a coalition of 26 nations and extends coordinated coalition operations. It is an international naval partnership which provides security for civilian maritime traffic by conducting counter piracy and counter terrorism mission in the heavily trafficked waters of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia including that of Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean.