Bahrain’s Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer, the United Kingdom’s Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East, at Riffa Palace in Manama.
Both parties discussed a range of security issues and strategic areas of collaboration aimed at promoting stability in the region, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
The Deputy King emphasized His Majesty King Hamad’s role in advancing bilateral collaboration between the two countries, and highlighted the steady growth of Bahrain-UK ties at all levels.
The meeting was also attended by the Bahrain Defense Force Chief-of-Staff, Lieutenant-General Theyab bin Saqer Al Noaimi.
For his part, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has asserted that Bahrain, like other countries of the world, gives top priority to security, stability and peace, stressing that common understanding should prevail.
HRH the Prime Minister pointed out that the Bahraini-British relations are unique regarding their historical depth, noting that the two kingdoms’ partnership and alliance are essential pillars for ensuring regional security and stability, citing their effective participation in military and security alliances aimed at facing various security challenges, particularly terrorism.
The Prime Minister made the statements while receiving, at the Gudaibiya Palace, the United Kingdom's Defense Senior Advisor on the Middle East, Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer.
HRH Premier reviewed with the UK’s Defense Senior Advisor on the Middle East the latest regional and global developing, affirming that the security challenges in the world, especially the Middle East, require building and consolidating strong partnership to strengthen the pillars of security and stability.
UK’s Defense Senior Advisor on the Middle East expressed his country’s appreciation of the role played by Bahrain to support efforts to maintain security and stability in the region and the world.
Lastly, Bahrain’s Interior Minister General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa also received the Lt-General Sir John Lorimer and British Ambassador to Bahrain Simon Martin. The meeting was also attended by Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq Al Hassan.
The Interior Minister welcomed the guest and praised the historical and distinguished ties between the two countries. The meeting reviewed bilateral ties and issues of common interest.
Lieutenant General John Lorimer joined the British Army in 1981 and was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment on 11 December 1982. From 1985-19888, he studied Arabic and Islamic Studies at Cambridge University.
He was promoted to Lieutenant on 11 December 1984, to Captain on 11 December 1988 and to Major on 30 September 1994. After serving in Northern Ireland, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 30 June 1999 and to Colonel on 30 June 2003.
Lorimer was appointed Commander of 12th Mechanized Brigade in June 2005 and was deployed with his brigade to Iraq later that year. Promoted to Brigadier on 31 December 2005, he was deployed to Afghanistan as Commander of Task Force Helmand in April 2007.
Promoted to Major General on 23 November 2010, Lorimer was appointed as the Chief of the Defense Staff’s Strategic Communications Officer. He was appointed General Officer Commanding 3rd (UK) Mechanized Division on 6 June 2011. Promoted to Lieutenant General on 9 July 2013, he was appointed Deputy Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Lorimer handed over his responsibilities of Deputy ISAF Commander to Lieutenant General Carsten Jacobson in June 2014 and became Chief of Joint Operations in January 2015. He took over as the Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East in January 2018.
