Saudi Arabia, US and other GCC countries kick off joint military exercises
The US Central Command in the Middle East (Centcom) announced the start of the Eagle Resolve 23 exercise with the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partner countries in Saudi Arabia. According to Centcom chief General Michael Kurilla, "Exercises like Eagle Resolve provide opportunities to demonstrate US-Saudi military cooperation and deepen interoperability across the GCC, while promoting security and stability in the region".
The exercise, which will continue through June, has as its primary objectives to enhance security and coordination in the Arabian Peninsula, developing the ability of GCC partner states to respond to existing and emerging threats in the region. The overarching goal in the face of any threat is the protection of civilians and infrastructure, and Eagle Resolve develops processes and skills necessary for air defence and crisis management. GCC members, namely Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, will provide personnel and ground, maritime and air assets for the various mission scenarios.
Eagle Resolve exercises, which are conducted twice a year, "provide an opportunity to demonstrate military cooperation and interoperability across the GCC," says General Kurilla. This time around, unspecified combat aircraft, warships and the T-38 Devil Ray, an unmanned surface vessel that cruises at slow speeds, although it can reach nearly 150 kilometres per hour, will be involved. Also accompanying the mission will be Boeing's P-8 Poseidon, an aircraft capable of maritime surveillance and long-range missions that require more range and can carry some 92 missiles of various types, including land-attack, anti-ship and anti-aircraft cruisers, as well as the Lewis B. Puller, a floating base for the Lewis B. Puller, a US military floating base capable of accommodating personnel and equipment, reducing dependence on foreign ports and optimised for "light footprint" operations that do not require large numbers of personnel such as anti-piracy missions, will also participate in the exercise.
CTF 154 is CMF’s fifth task force and will lead multinational maritime training at locations across the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/H5TXJewlE3
— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) May 22, 2023
The training of the Combined Task Force (known as CTF 154) will be led by the United States, which launched the missions at a ceremony at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The establishment of CTF 154 aims to train each partner nation's navy and bolster defences in the Persian Gulf to counter Iranian actions that "threaten and interfere with shipping and commerce in the Middle East," said White House spokesman John Kirby. Iranian threats to 15 internationally flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, weapons seizures and attacks on shippers prompted the US government to announce its military build-up in the area in early May. "The United States does not seek conflict or escalation with Iran, but we are committed to responding to Iranian aggression alongside our allies and global partners in the Middle East region to ensure freedom of navigation to the Strait of Hormuz and other vital waterways," Kirby said.
During the conduct of the military exercise in Saudi Arabia, training events will be organised in the area of maritime awareness, maritime law, interdiction, rescue and maritime assistance. Each training will be tailored to partner requests from the most basic to advanced levels. "Focusing our efforts to facilitate multinational partnership training will sharpen our skills and strengthen our ability to operate together," said Capt Oliver Herion, first commander of the Combined Task Force. In addition, troops from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States will conduct courses in first aid and boat boarding procedures.
