The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) gathered senior defence officials from 12 Middle Eastern countries in Bahrain this week for a regional security dialogue focused on strengthening military collaboration and addressing the shifting security environment.
Hosted by the Bahrain Defence Force and chaired by CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, the meeting included military representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
During the discussions, participants examined regional security challenges, explored opportunities to deepen defence cooperation, and emphasized the critical importance of ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.
Admiral Cooper highlighted that the talks demonstrated a unified commitment to regional stability and security, affirming that the United States will maintain close collaboration with its partners in the region.
In a significant development, Syria was represented by a military delegation led by Colonel Ahmad Saeed Issa, director of the Department of International Cooperation at Syria’s Ministry of Defence. This marked the first occasion that military leaders from both Syria and Lebanon took part in a CENTCOM-led conference, signaling a broader regional military engagement following recent political shifts in Syria.
This event follows Syria’s participation in the Efes 2026 multinational military exercises held in Turkey in May, where Syrian forces joined troops from around 50 countries, including NATO members. This was Syria’s first involvement in such exercises since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.
Moreover, Syria became the 90th member of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh in November, further illustrating its expanding role in regional and international security efforts.
