*RIYADH: *A US navy official visited Saudi Arabia to discuss maritimedefence coordination following last month’s twin attacks on key oilfacilities in the kingdom.
Riyadh joined a US-led force to protect Gulf shipping as tensions with Iransoared after the September 14 attacks that temporarily knocked out half ofthe Opec giant’s production.
“The visit was an opportunity to discuss our mutual efforts going forwardto coordinate defence against provocation and attack,” said Vice AdmiralJim Malloy, commander of US Naval Forces in the Middle East, according to astatement released on Tuesday.
It added the visit focused on the Saudi navy’s role in “efforts tostrengthen and reinforce defences against the Iranian aggression”.
Malloy met Saudi navy commander Fahad al-Ghofaily in Riyadh on Sunday,three days after the Pentagon announced it was sending 200 troops withPatriot missiles to bolster the kingdom’s defences.
The US has pushed for the creation of a US-led operation dubbed theInternational Maritime Security Construct to safeguard trade and the flowof oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
It has so far been joined by Australia, Britain and the United ArabEmirates, as well as Bahrain, the Gulf island state which is home to the USFifth Fleet.
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The initiative followed a number of mystery attacks on oil tankers andfacilities in and around the strategic waterway through which a third ofthe world’s seaborne oil passes.
Tensions have risen further since Saturday when twin attacks blamed byWashington and Riyadh on Tehran hit the world’s largest oil processingplant and a major oilfield in Saudi Arabia.
Iran has repeatedly denied it was responsible, saying that the attacks werecarried out by Yemeni rebels as they themselves have claimed.
European countries have declined to join the US-led force for fear ofharming their efforts to rescue a landmark 2015 nuclear accord between Iranand major powers. -APP/AFP
