Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa received in Manama Sunday the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy at United States Department of Defense Andrew Exum and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of Minister of Defense Affairs Lieutenant-General Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Jalahma.

They reviewed bilateral relations and ways to promote them on all levels, especially in military coordination and defense cooperation and discussed matters of mutual interest, according to Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

Field Marshal Al Khalifa also received on Sunday the GCC Secretary-General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani.

The Commander-in-Chief lauded Al-Zayani's tireless efforts to consolidate ties among the GCC countries.

He affirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's keenness on supporting all the directives aimed at promoting integration in the GCC, out of its belief in the solidarity and common destiny among member states of the GCC.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain-US Military Consultative Committee (MCC) held a meeting in Manama on Sunday, as the Minister of Defense Affairs Lieutenant-General Yusuf bin Ahmed Al-Jalahma headed the Bahraini side and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy at United States Department of Defense Andrew Exum headed the US side.

They reviewed a number of the committee's agenda topics, prioritizing the promotion of joint military cooperation and bilateral relations in order to strengthen joint frameworks of cooperation and coordination.

Inspector-General Major-General Abdullah Hassan Al Nuaimi, Assistant Chief of Staff for Supply and Logistics Rear Admiral Yusuf Ahmed Mal-Allah, Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) Commander Air Vice-Marshal Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Director of Joint Operations Brigadier-General Ghanim Ebrahim Al-Fadhala and a number of senior officers from Bahrain and the US.