Naval Support Activity Bahrain

Naval Support Activity Bahrain
Bahrain
United States Navy personnel performing morning colors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in 2005
Coordinates	26°12′35″N 50°36′35″E / 26.20972°N 50.60972°E / 26.20972; 50.60972
Type	United States Navy Main Operating Base
Site information
Owner	United States Government
Controlled by	United States Navy
Site history
Built	Refurbished in 1997; major renovations in 2003, 2006, and 2010–2015
In use	1971–present
Garrison information
Current commander	U.S. Navy Captain Cory R. Howes
Past commanders	U.S. Navy Captain Colin S. Walsh
Garrison	U.S. Fifth Fleet

Naval Support Activity Bahrain (or NSA Bahrain) is a United States Navy base, situated in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet.

Occupying the original territory of the British Royal Navy base known as HMS Jufair, USN presence was established on-site during World War II. Transferred to the U.S. government in 1971, NSA Bahrain today provides support through logistical, supply and protection as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs to both United States Armed Forces and coalition assets. It is the primary base in the region for the naval and marine activities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and formerly Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), to include when the latter was changed to Operation New Dawn (OND) until the end of the Iraq War.

The commander of Navy Region Southwest Asia is responsible for NSA Bahrain and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Navy Region Southwest Asia falls under the oversight of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT). Vice Admiral John W. Miller, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and United States Fifth Fleet.

The first presence of the British Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf came about from the need to control pirates raiding the British Empire ships east of Suez, especially the East India Company routes to India. In the early 1820s the rulers of Bahrain, Salman and Abdullah Al Khalifa, signed an agreement to try and limit piracy in the area. This was strengthened in 1835 through an agreement signed specifically with the Royal Navy, which addressed the need to stop pirates operating in the area, and limit the slave trade. In 1902 the first oil was discovered in the area, but commercial extraction did not begin until 1925 when Frank Holmes was given the first license, with the first oil not exported from Bahrain until 1932.