Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Attends 11th Manama Dialogue in Bahrain

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman calling on the Crown Prince of Bahrain, First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Bahrain Defence Force His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman is in Bahrain to attend the 11th Manama Dialogue from 31 October to 1 November 2015. The dialogue is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and is a key security forum for the Gulf region. It serves as a platform for senior defence, security and foreign affairs officials from around the world, and in particular the Middle East to discuss regional security challenges.

In Bahrain, Dr Maliki called on the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Bahrain Defence Force His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. They affirmed the strong and multifaceted relationship between Singapore and Bahrain, noting that this year marked the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations. Dr Maliki also expressed Singapore's appreciation to Bahrain for the support it provided to the Republic of Singapore Navy's deployment to the Gulf of Aden. Dr Maliki also had bilateral meetings with Iraq's Minister of Defence His Excellency Khaled Al Obeidi, and Qatar's Assistant of the Foreign Minister His Excellency Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Mitaib Al Rumaihi.

Singapore has been attending the Manama Dialogue since its inception in 2004. Countries represented at the Manama Dialogue this year include Gulf Cooperation Council members (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia), Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Yemen, as well as extra-regional countries such as Australia, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dr Maliki departs Bahrain today for Oman on an introductory visit.

Dr Maliki calling on the Prime Minister of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Dr Maliki calling on the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

Dr Maliki meeting the Minister of Defence of Iraq His Excellency Khaled Al Obeidi on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue.

Dr Maliki meeting the Assistant of the Foreign Minister of Qatar His Excellency Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Mitaib Al Rumaihi.