FILE PHOTO: Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson arrives in Downing Steet, London, Britain, October 9, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced on Monday it would open a joint military training base in Oman in March 2019 as it looks to bolster its relationships with allies in the region.

At a time of rising tension in the oil-producing Gulf region, Britain is diplomatically entwined in overlapping conflicts and disagreements involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson announced the British-Omani training base as he visited the country to observe the end of a large-scale joint military exercise involving thousands of personnel practicing desert combat.

“Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base,” Williamson said in a statement released by his department.

“This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely.”

Earlier this year, Britain also opened a permanent military base in Bahrain. [nL5N1RI5ME]

Williamson also signalled in meetings with Omani leaders his intent to sign a new bilateral agreement early next year which would cover enhanced defence ties and broader cooperation, the Ministry of Defence said.</s>Oman and Britain will open a joint military training base next year to help counter the activities of hostile states and extremist groups.

UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the base would open in March.

He made the announcement as he visited the country to observe the end of a large-scale joint military exercise involving tens of thousands of personnel practicing desert combat.

“Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base,” Williamson said.

“This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely.”

The Al Saif Al Sareea 3 military exercises included 70,000 defence personnel from Oman and 5,500 soldiers, sailors, pilots and engineers from the British Armed Forces.

Military commanders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt on Friday to attended the conclusion of Al Saif Al Sareea 3.</s>Khasab: Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, and Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom (UK), visited the Governorate of Musandam on Sunday. The visit included Musandam Sector Command, Khasab Airbase and Musandam Naval Base. Williamson was briefed on the assignments and duties carried out by the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) at Musandam Sector. Sayyid Badr and the guest were accompanied by Maj Gen Matar bin Salim al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raisi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), and the UK delegation. — ONA</s>As part of his visit to Oman for the culmination of Exercise Saif Sareea 3, the UK’s largest exercise in 17 years, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson underlined the UK’s enduring commitment to Oman and highlighted the importance of protecting peace and stability in the Gulf.

Our relationship with Oman is built on centuries of cooperation and we are cementing that long into the future with the opening of our new joint base. We stand as a beacon of stability in the region. This has never been more important as malign activity by hostile states and violent extremist organisations seek to undermine stability and subvert the rules based order on which we all rely.

UK troops will deploy to the joint training base in March 2019 to work and train alongside our Omani partners, building on the successes of Exercise Saif Sareea 3. For decades to come, it will support a variety of combined and joint training activity in the challenging and austere environment that 5,500 UK personnel have experienced over the last month.

The exercise also tested the interaction and collaboration between civilian and military structures, providing valuable lessons about ensuring we deploy the right combination of tools to tackle the complex threats we face today.

The Defence Secretary also attended the Exercise Saif Sareea Fire Power Demonstration which involved both UK and Omani personnel who have been living and exercising side by side for the past five weeks. The exercise’s culmination saw thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen from both nations execute a set piece battle across the desert.

Mr Williamson also met the Sultan of Oman and Omani Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs signalling his intent to sign an agreement of enduring defence commitment early next year, reflecting on wider cooperation beyond defence; and reaffirming the deep cultural links and economic ties.</s>Britain is to open a major new military base in Oman in a drive to boost UK influence post-Brexit.

Hundreds of troops will deploy to the permanent joint training base in the Middle East from next March, the month Britain leaves the European Union.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement as he watched the culmination of Britain’s biggest war games exercise in nearly two decades.

In scenes reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher in 1986, he rode to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 main battle tank.

He emerged from the turret wearing a helmet and body armour, with a Union Jack flag flying behind him.

Baroness Thatcher was similarly photographed in a Challenger after the Falklands War.

Mr Williamson said he did not have the former PM in mind when he got inside the tank, but the visit was a great chance to speak to soldiers in the desert.

About 5,500 British personnel have spent a month pretend ‘fighting’ an invasion force alongside 70,000 Omanis.

Speaking from HMS Albion afterwards, he said: ‘This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn’t retreating from the world. We are stepping out.’

He said Britain had ‘for so long been looking just at Europe’ and it was time to go global.

‘The symbolism of this Omani British base opening as we exit the European Union I hope isn’t lost on people,’ he added.</s>Britain's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the new base was evidence Britain was "stepping out" to the world.</s>The Sultanate of Oman and the U.K. on Friday signed a mutual defense agreement, the Omani News Agency (ONA) reported.

According to ONA, the agreement was signed during talks in Muscat between Omani Defense Minister Badr al-Busaidi and British counterpart Gavin Williamson.

Williamson and an accompanying delegation are currently visiting Oman to attend the final phases of the Al-Shomoukh 2 and Swift Sword 3 military maneuvers.

In early October, Mark Lancaster, U.K. minister of state for the armed forces, paid a days-long visit to Muscat during which he held a closed-door meeting with al-Busaidi.

At the time, ONA reported that the two men had discussed means of stepping up bilateral military cooperation and “issues of common concern”.

This article has been adapted from its original source.</s>British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement after joining overUpon his arrival to Oman, the UK defense secretary announced that a huge new training base will open in the Gulf state, the Daily Mail reported.Hundreds of troops will reportedly be deployed to the permanent base from next March, the month which also marks the deadline for the UK's divorce from the EU.Speaking from the UK Royal Navy's Albion-class amphibious transport dock HMS Albion, which arrived in Oman in early October, he reportedly said:Riding to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 tank,, with a Union Jack flag waving behind him - a scene which, as"This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn't retreating from the world. We are stepping out," Williamson reportedly said.</s>Upon his arrival to Oman, the UK defense secretary announced that a huge new training base will open in the Gulf state in a bid to boost the country’s influence in the region after Brexit is delivered, the Daily Mail reported.

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Hundreds of troops will reportedly be deployed to the permanent base from next March, the month which also marks the deadline for the UK’s divorce from the EU.

Speaking from the UK Royal Navy’s Albion-class amphibious transport dock HMS Albion, which arrived in Oman in early October, he reportedly said: “The symbolism of this Omani British base opening as we exit the European Union I hope isn’t lost on people.”

Riding to a live firepower demonstration in a Challenger 2 tank, he was pictured wearing a helmet and body armor, with a Union Jack flag waving behind him – a scene which, as British media noted, strikingly reminded of a similar picture of the Iron Lady of UK politics, Margaret Thatcher.

The Saif Sareea-3 war games involved 5,500 British soldiers and 70,000 Omani personnel, simulating an invasion scenario:

“This is the largest military exercise that is going on in the world at present. Britain isn’t retreating from the world. We are stepping out,” Williamson reportedly said.</s>MUSCAT: The Oman Seniors Open, one of Golf Oman’s flagship events, was played on Saturday and saw Allan Middleton reclaim the title he won in 2017 by three shots from Pulkeshin Sharma. Omani pair Ali Hameed al Saleh and Hussain Dad al Balushi shared the third place. In the over 60’s Super Seniors category, it was very close affair with John Petersen beating Stephen Pickering by one shot. The Oman Seniors Ladies division was even closer requiring a play off after both Nelly Materna and Jameela Daud returned scores of 89. It took two attempts to separate the ladies with Nelly securing the title with an excellent par on the difficult par three 16th hole.

 The Oman Seniors Open was played at Ras Al Hamra Golf Course for the first time and attracted the best senior golfers, those above 50 years of age, from across the country. With a full field of eighty-four golfers the morning golfers benefited from the calmer conditions with the wind picking up in the afternoon. The golf course proved a fitting test with the players unanimous in their praise of the condition of the course.

 Results: Oman Senior Open: 1st Allan Middleton, Al Mouj Golf, score 71. 2nd, Pulkeshin Sharma, Muscat Hills Golf Club, score 74. 3rd Ali Hameed al Saleh, Ghala Golf Club and Hussain Dad al Balushi, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 78. Nett Winner Jas Dhanju, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 65.

 Oman Super Seniors Champion: 1st John Petersen, Al Mouj Golf, score 82. 2nd Stephen Pickering, Al Mouj Golf, score 83. Nett Winner Michael Kostiuk, Al Mouj Golf, score 67. Oman Seniors Ladies Champion: 1st Nelly Materna, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 89, 2nd Jameela Daud, Al Mouj Golf, score 89. Nett Winner Kay Gopperth, Ras Al Hamra Golf Club, score 73.
British Defence Minister Gavin Williamson announces that a joint British-Omani military training base will open in Oman next year.