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Britain’s Gunboat Diplomacy

In international politics, the term “gunboat diplomacy” refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power. It is a tactic associated more with periods of history rather than the modern day; the idea of a battleship appearing off the coast being able to sway the politics of the day seeming out of place in today’s global geopolitics. Yet the actions of HMS Defender would seem to suggest that the approach may be making a comeback. Diplomacy
The British Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyer was recently headline news with various reports either in the Western press about the ship defending the right to free passage and pushing back against Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, or in the Russian press that the ship was chased out of its water by its military. Footage of the showdown made clear that Russian jet planes and coast guard vessels were certainly up close and personal to the British warship and the radio chatter between the two sides escalated quickly to the point of seemingly being ready for a physical confrontation.
We know much of this because HMS Defender was carrying a number of British journalists at the time. This was no accident and following years of Russia teasing Western states with bombers flying close to their airspace forcing them to scramble fighters, the tactic was now been used in reverse. As one of the officers on board admitted to the BBC, the objective of sailing so close to Crimea was to ‘poke the Russian bear’ and the bear duly responded resulted in reams of media coverage potentially amiable to both sides.
The UK was able to show that the new ‘Global Britain’ approach would see a more frequent and assertive use of its military power, and the Russians were able to demonstrate that they would not suffer such tactics lightly. Indeed, several days after the standoff with HMS Defender, the Russian’s tested a giant new nuclear submarine, the Belgorod, in the White Sea. The submarine is advertised as having not just to ability to launch nuclear missiles but is also able to tamper and disrupt caballing at the bottom of the sea an obvious strategic threat to countries like the UK. Diplomacy
The thinking behind the UK actions following the G7’s clear recognition of the threat from Russia which was also seen in a major review of UK foreign and defence policy; is that the Russians will take constant advantage of areas where the West is not holding the line. The Integrated Review 2021, which describes the UK government’s vision for the nation’s role in the world over the next decade, states that “Russia will remain the most acute direct threat to the UK”. Analysts would point to Syria as a perfect example in point; where a confused and reluctant Western policy to get too involved in the conflict was contrasted to the Russians significantly investing in manpower and changing the course of events entirely.
There is of course the counterpoint to the holding the line or pushing back strategy, that it could accidentally result in further escalation and that events could take their own momentum. Following the HMS Defender incident, the Russian military has launched sweeping manoeuvres in the Mediterranean Sea featuring warplanes capable of carrying hypersonic missiles, a show of force. The Russian drills began on Friday in the Eastern Mediterranean come as a British carrier strike group is in the area.
As soon as military forces with a history of enmity behind them are thrown into a proximate location then the levels of risk are far higher. A huge learning from the Cold War is the number of near misses that could have escalated into nuclear Armageddon. We’re in a different time now of course but there are still nuclear weapons primed and ready to go in several states’ armouries and perhaps the absence of clarity around what situations they would be used in makes things more not less dangerous. As President Biden recently demonstrated, what is needed is a clear sense as to what diplomatic and political channels are open to ensure that the key mode of communication between Moscow and London doesn’t take the form of heavily armed warships. Diplomacy
by: James Denselow levant
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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