UK Joint Logistics Support Base
{{Short description|British military base in central-eastern Oman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = United Kingdom Joint Logistics Support Base
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|partof = Al Duqm Port and Drydock
|location = Duqm, Al Wusta governorate
|country = Oman
|image = File:British Army Exercise Saif Sareea 3 Duqm.jpg
|image_size = 310
|alt =
|caption = A British armoured vehicle being transported from UKJLSB by an Oshkosh 1070F to Exercise Saif Sareea 3.
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|type = military logistics support base
|coordinates = {{Coord|19|40|07|N|57|42|22|E|region:OM-WU_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title|name=United Kingdom Joint Logistics Support Base}}
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|pushpin_map = Oman
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|ownership = {{Flag|United Kingdom}}, Ministry of Defence
|operator = {{Armed forces|United Kingdom}}, {{Flag icon|United Kingdom|naval}} Royal Navy
|controlledby = Strategic Command
|open_to_public = no
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|built = {{Start date and age|2017}}
|used = 2018–present
|builder = Babcock International
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|condition = operational
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File:HMS Queen Elizabeth Duqm Port Oman.jpg
The United Kingdom Joint Logistics Support Base (UKJLSB) is a military base located within the Al Duqm Port and Drydock of Duqm in the Al Wusta governorate of Oman. As a British overseas military base, it is used to facilitate the deployment of the British Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, along with the wider British maritime operations in the region.{{Cite news|title=Multi-million pound joint venture announced between Britain and Oman|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/multi-million-pound-joint-venture-announced-between-britain-and-oman|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Government|date=30 March 2016|access-date=29 January 2023}}
History
In March 2016, the British government secured a joint venture between the British-based Babcock International and the Omani-based Oman Drydock Company to develop the Al Duqm Port & Drydock into a strategic port capable of supporting naval operations. In late August 2017, following a signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Services Agreement by Sir Michael Fallon, the then British Defence Secretary, an agreement was subsequently announced to construct logistical support infrastructure especially for the British Armed Forces, named the United Kingdom Joint Logistics Support Base (UKJLSB).{{Cite news|title=Defence Secretary strengthens ties between UK and Oman|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-strengthens-ties-between-uk-and-oman|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Government|date=28 August 2017|access-date=29 January 2023}}{{Cite web|last=Tossini|first=J. Vitor|date=20 February 2018|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-uk-in-oman-a-new-support-facility-for-the-british-armed-forces/|title=The UK in Oman – a new support facility for the British Armed Forces|website=UKDefenceJournal.org.uk|publisher=UK Defence Journal|access-date=31 January 2023}} The location was chosen by the United Kingdom (UK) due to its strategic position, which is east of the Suez Canal but outside the Persian Gulf. It is part of the UK's wider foreign policy strategy to re-engage globally after Brexit, in particular within the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.{{Cite web|last=Vagneur-Jones|first=Antoine|date=19 July 2017|title=Global Britain in the Gulf: Brexit and relations with the GCC|url=https://frstrategie.org/en/publications/notes/global-britain-gulf-brexit-relations-gcc-2017|website=FRStrategie.org|publisher=Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique|access-date=29 January 2023}}{{Cite report|last=Patalano|first=Dr Alessio|date=March 2019|title=Days of future past? – British strategy and the shaping of Indo-Pacific security|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Days-of-Future-Past.pdf|website=PolicyExchange.org.uk|others=Foreword by Sir Michael Fallon MP|location=Westminster, London, UK|publisher=Policy Exchange|isbn=978-1-910812-67-9|access-date=18 September 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Kuwait's role in London's return east of Suez|url=https://gulfif.org/kuwaits-role-in-londons-return-east-of-suez-commentary/|website=GulfIF.org|publisher=Gulf International Forum|date=27 February 2018|access-date=18 September 2020}} Other British military bases within the region include HMS Jufair and RAF Al Udeid, which are located in Bahrain and Qatar, respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/news/inside-al-udeid-raf-commander-leading-uk-air-war-against-islamic-state|title=Inside Al Udeid: RAF commander leading UK air war against Islamic State|publisher=Forces.net|date=21 September 2017}} Prior to construction, the Royal Navy (RN) helped survey the approaches to the harbour.{{Cite news|title=Montrose back on patrol after overhaul in Oman|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2021/january/12/20210112-duqm-dock|website=RoyalNavy.MoD.uk|publisher=Royal Navy|date=12 January 2021|access-date=8 August 2021}}
Following construction by Babcock International, the UKJLSB was officially opened in October 2018, and was used during Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (Swift Sword 3), the largest British military exercise in the region for over 15 years.{{Cite news|title=Defence Minister reaffirms UK commitment to the Gulf|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-minister-reaffirms-uk-commitment-to-the-gulf--2|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Government|date=5 October 2018|access-date=18 September 2020}} The base is large enough to accommodate the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, which will utilise the facilities operationally from 2021. Dry dock facilities large enough to accommodate the aircraft carriers are also available for use. As a joint base, it is controlled by Strategic Command (previously Joint Forces Command), and is currently leased for 37 years.{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831728/MOD_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2018-19_WEB__ERRATUM_CORRECTED_.pdf|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Government|access-date=18 September 2020}}{{Cite news|title=UK to triple its Naval base in Oman's Duqm Port|url=https://www.defaiya.com/news/Regional%20News/Oman/2020/09/16/uk-to-triple-its-naval-base-in-oman-s-duqm-port|website=Defaiya.com|publisher=Al Defaiya|date=16 September 2020|access-date=18 September 2020}}
During a trip to the Middle East in September 2020, British Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, announced that the UKJLSB would be tripled in size, following a £23.8 million investment to better facilitate British Army training.{{Cite news|title=Defence Secretary announces investment in strategic Omani port|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-announces-investment-in-strategic-omani-port|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence / HM Government|date=12 September 2020|access-date=31 January 2023}}{{Cite web|title=UK to expand base in Oman|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-to-expand-base-in-oman|publisher=Janes|date=14 September 2020|access-date=18 September 2020}} Another facility, a joint training area, was also established in the nearby Ras Madrakah training area, named the Omani-British Joint Training Area, in 2019.{{Cite news|title=UK and Oman sign historic Joint Defence Agreement|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-oman-sign-historic-joint-defence-agreement|website=GOV.UK|publisher=HM Government|date=21 February 2019|access-date=18 September 2020}}
In January 2021, the Type 23 frigate {{HMS|Montrose|F236|6}} became the first Royal Navy ship to be overhauled at the facility. In November 2021, the base hosted {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}} and her carrier strike group for the first time, prior to their participation in joint military training with Omani forces.{{Cite news|title=Aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth arrives at Duqm to participate in military exercise|url=https://timesofoman.com/article/108955-aircraft-carrier-queen-elizabeth-arrives-at-duqm-to-participate-in-military-exercise|website=TimesOfOman.com|publisher=Times of Oman, Muscat Media Group|date=4 November 2021|access-date=1 February 2023}}{{Cite news|title=Oman: UK aircraft carrier joins exercises using logistics base in Duqm|url=https://www.gsn-online.com/article/oman-uk-aircraft-carrier-joins-exercises-using-logistics-base-duqm|website=GSN-Online.com|publisher=Gulf States Newsletter|date=11 November 2021|access-date=25 November 2021}} From 2023, the base was to have been the principal facility for vessels of the British task group, Littoral Response Group (South).{{Cite AV media|last=Williams|first=Briohny|date=19 September 2023|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63-ADo-SeOw|title= Royal Navy task force gears up for landmark deployment|type=YouTube video|publisher=Forces News|access-date=11 October 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{British Armed Forces overseas military bases}}
{{His Majesty's Naval Service}}
{{Royal Navy shore establishments}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Oman|2010s|2020s}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Royal Navy bases outside the United Kingdom
Category:Military installations of the United Kingdom in other countries
Category:Military units and formations established in 2018