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Britain has cemented a permanent presence in the Gulf with the opening of the United Kingdom Naval Support Facility at a ceremony at Mina Salman port in Bahrain.
The facility will be the hub of the Royal Navy's operations in the Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
The self-sufficient operating base is capable of meeting the needs of any British warship operating in the region, including Britain's new aircraft carriers future flagships HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
It will be home to just over 300 British military personnel and supporting civilians, and can accommodate up to nearly 550 for short periods.
The facility will also provide a key strategic base east of Suez for Britain, its allies and coalition partners.
