U.S. Fifth Fleet to welcome back dependents, expand presence in Bahrain
ABU DHABI — The U.S. Navy is moving forward with an expansion program in
Bahrain.
Officials said the navy has drafted options for expanding facilities in
Bahrain. They said the expansion would enable the return at least 1,000
dependents of U.S. Navy personnel in the Gulf Cooperation Council state.
"But whatever we build will be designed to help the community," U.S.
ambassador to Bahrain Adam Ereli said.
At a news conference on May 12, Ereli said the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet
would construct housing and other facilities around Manama. The ambassador
said the U.S. Naval Support Activity was negotiating to rent buildings in
Bahrain's Juffair.
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Ereli said the U.S. Navy would remain in Bahrain, which has undergone
rising Shi'ite unrest over the last 18 months. He said the navy has
contributed up to $400 million per year to the Bahraini economy.
In 2004, the Defense Department, amid anti-U.S. demonstrations and an
alert of an Al Qaida attack, ordered the evacuation of nearly 1,000
dependents of U.S. military staffers in Bahrain. In December 2008, some of
the adult dependents were allowed to return to Manama.
Officials said the expansion of the Fifth Fleet was needed to
accommodate hundreds of additional dependents expected to arrive in Bahrain
over the next year. The dependents would include the children of U.S.
military personnel.
