Plans for a missile defence system to protect the GCC are among sensitive topics contained in leaked cables sent from the US Embassy, Manama.

The system, referred to as a Regional Integrated Air and Missile Defence (RIAMD) strategy, is detailed in a memo classified as 'secret' and sent to Washington in October last year.

It refers to a meeting attended by US Air Forces Central Command Commander, Lieutenant-General Mike Hostage.

'Lt-Gen Hostage explained that, because of the threat posed by Iran to the region, his primary goal was to work on establishing RIAMD between the US and the GCC states,' says the document, which was among those released by WikiLeaks on Sunday.

'First, this involved integrating the US' own air and missile defence assets (Navy Aegis, Army Patriots, etc).

'Then he would offer to link each Gulf state into a Shared Early Warning (SEW) Common Operating Picture (COP), to the extent that each government was willing to participate.

'The US would share the same picture with all, and each could add as much information as it liked, while keeping data it did not wish to share behind a secure firewall.'

Lt-Gen Hostage also confirmed the US was deploying a 'Theatre High Altitude Air Defence' (Thaad) system in the Gulf.

'(Lt) Gen Hostage replied that the location was not yet certain, but yes, Thaad would be deployed within a year, and would prove to be a very capable mid-course intercept system,' adds the memo.

The document also reveals that Bahrain committed to contribute a company from its security forces to provide inner perimeter security at a coalition base in Afghanistan, after a budget of $13 million (BD4.9 million) had been approved to equip them.

The document is one of three cables from the US Embassy in Bahrain that were released by online whistleblower WikiLeaks on Sunday.

One from last November refers to Bahrain's support for action to end Iran's nuclear programme, while another from July last year suggests another neighbouring country was refusing to sell its gas to Bahrain.

However, a US Embassy spokeswoman told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) yesterday that the leaks would not affect relations between Bahrain and the US.

'The US has enjoyed partnership with Bahrain built on shared interests and mutual respect,' she said.

'The embassy is confident the relationship will continue.'

The spokeswoman also claimed the embassy was taking action to ensure future communications were secure.

'The embassy is committed to ensure confidentiality of information and the security of the system,' she said.

She also confirmed Bahrain had been alerted to the contents of the leaked memos in advance.-TradeArabia News Service