The IISS and Bahrain’s foreign ministry are co-organising the three-day event, the eighth since its inception in 2004. Last year’s session was skipped due to the unrest that hit Bahrain. Minister-led delegations will attend from the US, the UK, Germany and Italy. Remarks by the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will draw considerable interest, IISS said. Several Chiefs of Defence staff and deputy chiefs from North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia will also take part.“A significant congressional delegation will also attend from the US and will include John McCain, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Dutch Ruppersberger, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,” IISS said.