Bahrain denies construction of British military base

By Ahmed al-Masri

MANAMA (AA) – Bahrain has dismissed recent reports concerning the construction of a British military base on its territory, the Middle Eastern country's official news agency (NNA) reported Thursday.

The denial came after certain news agencies and media outlets reported about the establishment of a U.K. military base in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

“What is being built is not a military base, it is a support facility for the British navy under an agreement between the two friend countries," a statement issued by a Bahraini official from the Foreign Ministry said, according to the news agency.

In the last few days, media reports have said the United Kingdom's Prince Charles would open the first permanent British military base in the Middle East since 1971 in November.

The reports added that the cost of the base had reached more than 37 million pounds ($46 million), of which Bahrain paid 30 million.

The British Foreign Office announced in December 2014, that London and Manama had signed an agreement allowing Britain to establish a military base in Bahrain.