UK working with defence sector to distribute missiles to Gulf partners

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - ​British ⁠Prime Minister Keir Starmer ​said on Monday the government was ​working ‌with the defence industry to ⁠distribute air defence missiles ⁠to Gulf partners and ​was deploying short-range air defence systems to Bahrain rapidly.

"We're deploying short ​range ‌air defence systems to Bahrain at speed," Starmer told a parliamentary committee.

"This was ​an issue that came up ‌as a matter of some urgency over the course ‌of this weekend. We're doing the same with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia," ​he added.

His comments follow a March ‌18 announcement that Britain had stepped up support for Gulf partners, ⁠including ⁠convening defence industry leaders ‌and confirming plans to buy more lightweight ​missiles ​for its own ‌military forces and regional allies.