US and Saudi Arabia troops in joint naval ‘Indigo Defender-21’ drills

Members of Saudi Arabia’s Royal Naval Forces and the American Navy continued joint exercises Saudi state media reported.

The “Indigo Defender-21″ military drills began last week on Sunday.

Saudi exercise commander Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al Juaid, said the 10-day manoeuvres were aimed at bolstering US-Saudi military co-operation and increasing bilateral combat readiness.

“The exercise is meant to reinforce relations and military cooperation between Saudi and US forces and to exchange expertise and abilities in port protection and the removal of mines above and under water,” Admiral Al Juaid said at a press conference during the launch.