Feb. 9, 2024
Release Number 20240209 - 01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla. - From Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, traveled to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom of Bahrain to meet with key partners.
In Jordan he spoke with Maj. Gen. Youssef Alhnaity, Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other key leaders on border security and the current security situation in the region.
While in Saudi Arabia Gen. Kurilla met with Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwail, Royal Saudi Chief of General Staff, and other senior military leaders to discuss mutual concerns with recent Houthi activities in the Red Sea area and continued opportunities to strengthen cooperation across an expanded network of security partners.
Finally, in Bahrain Gen Kurilla met with Chief Field Marshall Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain Defense Forces Commander in Chief to discuss the implementation of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement and thanked the Bahrainis for their support in the multinational efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. While in Bahrain, Gen. Kurilla presided over the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) change of command ceremony between Vice Adm. Brad Cooper and Vice Admiral George Wikoff.