Military of Bahrain

Under the Ministry of Defense, Bahrain's Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 9,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and Amiri guard units. Separate from the BDF, the public security forces and the coast guard report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain, in conjunction with its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners--Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates--has moved to upgrade its defenses over the last 10 years in response to the threat posed by the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion to help improve its defenses. Bahrain's defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $320 million annually on their military.

After the Gulf war, Bahrain received additional military support from the United States, including the sale of eight Apache helicopters and subsequent sales of 54 M60A3 tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, and 14 Cobra helicopters. Joint air and ground exercises also have been planned and executed to increase readiness throughout the Gulf. Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. In October 2001, President George W. Bush announced his intention to designate Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally.

Military branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force

Military manpower - military age: 15 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 221,109 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 121,442 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 5,699 (2000 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $318 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.2% (FY99)

Reference

Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.

See also : Bahrain