Boosting Regional Cooperation: Behind Gulf Shield 1
The joint exercise, which was concluded last week, is likely to further strengthen the existing defense collaboration between the participating nations and demonstrate their resolve for ensuring maritime security in the region
Dr. Shaul Shay
| 22/04/2018
Source: www.petra.gov.jo
Saudi King Salman attended the conclusion of the Joint Gulf Shield-1 military drill last Monday, alongside many Arab leaders who had taken part one day earlier in an Arab Summit in the Saudi city of Dammam.
This patronage came as a realization of the importance of military cooperation and coordination with friendly countries to protect the security of the region and to raise the level of readiness to ensure regional and global peace.
Tens of thousands of soldiers from 23 countries arrived in the Kingdom to join the Gulf Shield 1 military exercise, which is considered the largest in the region in terms of the number of participating countries and the equipment used.
The aim of the exercises was to assess and develop readiness to plan and execute sea and air operations to protect vital interests, combat terrorism and counter-threats to the security and stability of the Gulf and the Middle East. The drills featured two types of military operations that included conventional military operations represented by coastal defense against the enemy, in addition to the irregular war operations carried out by besieging and penetrating villages and industrial installations so as to cleanse them of hostile elements.
The exercise comprised three main phases. The first phase was based essentially on various activities involving joint operational planning, training/demonstrations, seminars on professional topics and cultural/social events.
The training included the execution of a Command Post Exercise for the leadership of the participating countries, in which a number of planned and unplanned tactical tasks were imposed to train against various threats.
The exercise included the mobilization of the participating troops from the stationing area to the specialized training areas and fields in preparation for the execution of the main training phase.
The second phase consisted of field exercises using live ammunition. Irregular warfare, coastal defense, combat search & rescue, naval warfare exercises and extensive flying operations have been conducted during the sea phase of the exercise.
In the drill, the "enemy" targeted an artillery position and attacked a coast guard position. Coastguards defended the assigned area and deterred the attackers while ground forces, including paratrooper and commando forces units, raided coastal villages that had been infiltrated by hostile elements.
Special marine units performed tasks that included marine landings in order to seize control of strategic coastal areas. Other groups boarded and searched suspect vessels. Paratrooper and commando units practiced free parachuting from high altitudes.
There were, in addition, aerial engagements with hostile targets, combat tasks staged in urban settings using live ammunition, and training in aerial evacuation following combat tasks.
The final phase of the drill included a simulated hostile ballistic missile strike against a factory. Emergency forces cleansed the area of chemicals, provided medical first aid and evacuated victims to nearby field hospitals by air.
To mark the end of the tactical training exercises, a military parade was held in which all participant countries took part.
24 Participants
Twenty-four countries, led by Saudi Arabia, participated in the massive drill in the Eastern Province. Among the countries that took part in the exercise were the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Malaysia, India, and Afghanistan.
Pakistan was the leading contributor in the exercise, both in personnel and assets, which is reflective of the strong bilateral defense relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, accompanied by Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, arrived to witness the joint military exercise.
The Pakistan Navy Ships Tippu Sultan, Himmat and Pakistan Maritime Security Ship Basol headed by Mission Commander Commodore Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, Commander 25th Destroyer Squadron (Comdesron-25) participated in the exercise. Elements from Pakistan Navy Special Services Group and Pakistan Marines also participated in Gulf Shield 1 as part of the land contingent of all three Services of Pakistan Armed Forces. A Pakistan Navy Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) P3C aircraft also participated in the exercises at sea. Observers from various participating countries had been boarded PN Ships during sea phase.
The Egyptian Armed Forces participated with elements of the special naval forces, Rangers and Airborne, as well as the Air Force and elements of the Military Police.
In the final stage of the exercise, Egyptian F-16s joined other participants’ air forces to stage sorties against hostile targets on an island and secure air control over the zone of operations, as naval units destroyed hostile vessels while securing maritime routes, islands, and vital facilities.
Egypt’s Air Force conducted several activities during the drills, including preparing and planning for conducting joint air operations to defend vital sites, as well as practicing attacking enemies.
Qatar also took part in the exercise. Lt. Gen. Ghanem bin Shahin al-Ghanem, Chief of Staff of the Qatari armed forces, attended the final day of the drills at the invitation of his Saudi counterpart Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli. Al-Ghanem is the highest-ranking Qatari military official to visit the Saudi kingdom since June 2017, when Riyadh – along with Egypt, UAE and Bahrain cut its relations with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups.
Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) participated with a Combat Group. Commander of the BDF Combat Group Brigadier Khalid Salman Al Ma'awda noted that the exercise aims to boost the combat readiness of the participating forces and provide a distinguished operational training climate to exchange experiences and unify concepts.
The BDF participation in the military drill is in line with the directives of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, which reflect keenness to bolster military cooperation among the GCC countries and achieve forecast integration.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) sent a platoon from the 10th Para Brigade together with a small number of support personnel. The participation of Malaysia was confirmed by Saudi Defense Ministry but the Saudi Defense Ministry did not say how many Malaysian personnel took part in the exercise.
Summary
The Gulf Shield 1 joint exercise is considered the largest defense drill in the Middle East in terms of participating countries and weaponry. The exercise is an extension of a series of joint exercises carried out by the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces with many brotherly and friendly countries to develop and enhance combat and technical capabilities, and exchange expertise to support the pillars of national security on the Arab and regional levels.
The training provides a rich environment in mutual field and tactical expertise, with the aim of confirming readiness and willingness to plan and implement joint ground, air and sea operations to protect vital interests, combat terrorism and confront threats and hostilities targeting the security and stability of the Gulf region and the Middle East.
The Gulf Shield 1 drill is a turning point in terms of the techniques used in accordance with the most modern military systems in the world. The exercise is likely to further strengthen the existing bonds of defense collaboration between the participating nations and demonstrate their resolve for ensuring maritime security in the region.
The joint exercise, which was concluded last week, is likely to further strengthen the existing defense collaboration between the participating nations and demonstrate their resolve for ensuring maritime security in the region
Source: www.petra.gov.jo
Saudi King Salman attended the conclusion of the Joint Gulf Shield-1 military drill last Monday, alongside many Arab leaders who had taken part one day earlier in an Arab Summit in the Saudi city of Dammam.
This patronage came as a realization of the importance of military cooperation and coordination with friendly countries to protect the security of the region and to raise the level of readiness to ensure regional and global peace.
Tens of thousands of soldiers from 23 countries arrived in the Kingdom to join the Gulf Shield 1 military exercise, which is considered the largest in the region in terms of the number of participating countries and the equipment used.
The aim of the exercises was to assess and develop readiness to plan and execute sea and air operations to protect vital interests, combat terrorism and counter-threats to the security and stability of the Gulf and the Middle East. The drills featured two types of military operations that included conventional military operations represented by coastal defense against the enemy, in addition to the irregular war operations carried out by besieging and penetrating villages and industrial installations so as to cleanse them of hostile elements.
The exercise comprised three main phases. The first phase was based essentially on various activities involving joint operational planning, training/demonstrations, seminars on professional topics and cultural/social events.
The training included the execution of a Command Post Exercise for the leadership of the participating countries, in which a number of planned and unplanned tactical tasks were imposed to train against various threats.
The exercise included the mobilization of the participating troops from the stationing area to the specialized training areas and fields in preparation for the execution of the main training phase.
The second phase consisted of field exercises using live ammunition. Irregular warfare, coastal defense, combat search & rescue, naval warfare exercises and extensive flying operations have been conducted during the sea phase of the exercise.
In the drill, the "enemy" targeted an artillery position and attacked a coast guard position. Coastguards defended the assigned area and deterred the attackers while ground forces, including paratrooper and commando forces units, raided coastal villages that had been infiltrated by hostile elements.
Special marine units performed tasks that included marine landings in order to seize control of strategic coastal areas. Other groups boarded and searched suspect vessels. Paratrooper and commando units practiced free parachuting from high altitudes.
There were, in addition, aerial engagements with hostile targets, combat tasks staged in urban settings using live ammunition, and training in aerial evacuation following combat tasks.
The final phase of the drill included a simulated hostile ballistic missile strike against a factory. Emergency forces cleansed the area of chemicals, provided medical first aid and evacuated victims to nearby field hospitals by air.
To mark the end of the tactical training exercises, a military parade was held in which all participant countries took part.
24 Participants
Twenty-four countries, led by Saudi Arabia, participated in the massive drill in the Eastern Province. Among the countries that took part in the exercise were the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Malaysia, India, and Afghanistan.
Pakistan was the leading contributor in the exercise, both in personnel and assets, which is reflective of the strong bilateral defense relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, accompanied by Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, arrived to witness the joint military exercise.
The Pakistan Navy Ships Tippu Sultan, Himmat and Pakistan Maritime Security Ship Basol headed by Mission Commander Commodore Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, Commander 25th Destroyer Squadron (Comdesron-25) participated in the exercise. Elements from Pakistan Navy Special Services Group and Pakistan Marines also participated in Gulf Shield 1 as part of the land contingent of all three Services of Pakistan Armed Forces. A Pakistan Navy Long Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) P3C aircraft also participated in the exercises at sea. Observers from various participating countries had been boarded PN Ships during sea phase.
The Egyptian Armed Forces participated with elements of the special naval forces, Rangers and Airborne, as well as the Air Force and elements of the Military Police.
In the final stage of the exercise, Egyptian F-16s joined other participants’ air forces to stage sorties against hostile targets on an island and secure air control over the zone of operations, as naval units destroyed hostile vessels while securing maritime routes, islands, and vital facilities.
Egypt’s Air Force conducted several activities during the drills, including preparing and planning for conducting joint air operations to defend vital sites, as well as practicing attacking enemies.
Qatar also took part in the exercise. Lt. Gen. Ghanem bin Shahin al-Ghanem, Chief of Staff of the Qatari armed forces, attended the final day of the drills at the invitation of his Saudi counterpart Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli. Al-Ghanem is the highest-ranking Qatari military official to visit the Saudi kingdom since June 2017, when Riyadh – along with Egypt, UAE and Bahrain cut its relations with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups.
Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) participated with a Combat Group. Commander of the BDF Combat Group Brigadier Khalid Salman Al Ma'awda noted that the exercise aims to boost the combat readiness of the participating forces and provide a distinguished operational training climate to exchange experiences and unify concepts.
The BDF participation in the military drill is in line with the directives of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, which reflect keenness to bolster military cooperation among the GCC countries and achieve forecast integration.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) sent a platoon from the 10th Para Brigade together with a small number of support personnel. The participation of Malaysia was confirmed by Saudi Defense Ministry but the Saudi Defense Ministry did not say how many Malaysian personnel took part in the exercise.
Summary
The Gulf Shield 1 joint exercise is considered the largest defense drill in the Middle East in terms of participating countries and weaponry. The exercise is an extension of a series of joint exercises carried out by the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces with many brotherly and friendly countries to develop and enhance combat and technical capabilities, and exchange expertise to support the pillars of national security on the Arab and regional levels.
The training provides a rich environment in mutual field and tactical expertise, with the aim of confirming readiness and willingness to plan and implement joint ground, air and sea operations to protect vital interests, combat terrorism and confront threats and hostilities targeting the security and stability of the Gulf region and the Middle East.
The Gulf Shield 1 drill is a turning point in terms of the techniques used in accordance with the most modern military systems in the world. The exercise is likely to further strengthen the existing bonds of defense collaboration between the participating nations and demonstrate their resolve for ensuring maritime security in the region.
