Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following reading:
On December 19, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin met with His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force. did. Force, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Manama, Bahrain.
He emphasized the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Bahrain, as reflected most recently in the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA). He thanked Bahraini leaders for working with the United States to promote regional security and stability.
Secretary Austin thanked the King and Crown Prince for their generosity in hosting Bahrain’s U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) and for their leadership in regional integration and maritime security efforts. He condemned the increased Houthi attacks on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, stressing that Houthi attacks on commercial vessels transiting the vital waterway pose a risk to free commerce. Secretary Austin conveyed his desire to work with all countries that share an interest in freedom of navigation.