Members of parliament, as well as Bahraini activists, are protesting the move as it supports a government known for its human rights abuses.
Britain’s decision to set up a US$23 million permanent naval base in Bahrain has been slammed by activist groups for its human rights implications.
The deal will see Britain’s first base in the Middle East for more than 40 years, and, according to U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, will cement a U.K. military presence in the Gulf for many years to come.
“The expansion of Britain’s footprint builds upon our 30-year track record of Gulf patrols and is just one example of our growing partnership with Gulf partners to tackle shared strategic and regional threats,” he said.
The move has been met with criticism from anti-war organizations, who condemn the hypocrisy of the U.K. for associating with a tyrannical regime and reasserting itself as a colonial power.
Prominent parliamentarians, including Jeremy Corbyn, who also chairs the Stop the War Coalition, and Caroline Lucas, submitted a motion to the U.K. parliament condemning the move. It says politicians are “appalled that Britain has signed an agreement with the government of Bahrain.”
The motion labels the move an insult “to all those who have suffered human rights abuses by the government of Bahrain,” which “will serve to send a message that the UK Government is not interested in justice,” and warns that this “increased British military presence is likely to exacerbate tensions in the region.”