07 de diciembre de 2014, 03:30London, Dec 7 (Prensa Latina) British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond today announced that his country is to open a permanent military base in Bahrain, aimed at reinforcing security in the Persian Gulf.

Hammond’s communique was released by the local press this weekend and it says that the base is believed to cost over 19 million euros.

The base will be first permanent UK base in the Middle East since 1971

Hammond stressed that the opening of the base will extend the presence of the Royal Navy and security will be reinforced in the region.

For his part, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon also said the new base is a permanent expansion of the Royal Navy’s footprint and will enable Britain to send more and larger ships to reinforce stability in the Gulf.

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