Ambassador to Washington addresses Atlantic Council; hails governments’ efficient response to Covid-19

Washington, May 28 (BNA): Bahraini Ambassador to the United States, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, has stressed the ability of governments in responding to the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), saying it has revealed their efficiency in dealing with crises, ability to mobilise their resources and flexibility of their infrastructure and comparing it to their response to the unconventional challenge posed to governments and societies around the world by drone attacks. The ambassador said the statements while addressing the virtual event held by the Atlantic Council, the prominent intellectual centre specialised in studying international issues in the American capital, regarding the threats posed by drone attacks against basic infrastructure in the Middle East. During the event, which was attended by many security experts and specialists in Middle East affairs, the ambassador described the threat posed by the failed Iranian regime's attempt to threaten the global energy infrastructure through drone attacks on Saudi Aramco in Abqaiq and Khurais, as well as attacks against four oil tankers on the coast of Fujairah as an unfortunate reality. He added that the availability of small low-cost drones complicated the threat and provided the opportunity to terrorist organisations to use such modern technologies as done against people and infrastructure in the region. The ambassador stated that, despite the danger posed by the fall of such modern technologies in the hands of terrorist organisations, the drones could be effective tools in defending national security whenever used correctly and by legal authorities. In this regard, the ambassador pointed to the optimal and successful use of drones by the Interior Ministry in the Kingdom of Bahrain to educate expatriate workers of the importance of adhering to the authorities’ precautionary measures to combat Coronavirus, stressing, at the same time, the importance of joint exercises and exchange of information and best practices in the field.