<p>Britain on Friday announced a £23.8 million ($30.5 million, 25.7 million euros) investment to triple the size of its base in an Omani port close to the sensitive waters of the Gulf.</p>.<p>The expansion of the "logistics hub" at Duqm will "facilitate Royal Navy deployments to the Indian Ocean" and "further support British Army training in Oman," the Ministry of Defence said.</p>.<p>"The long-standing friendships between the UK and the Gulf states are more important than ever," said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as he visited Oman and Qatar.</p>.<p>"Whether tackling Daesh (the so-called Islamic State group), or making our streets in the UK safer thanks to our intelligence networks, these are hugely valuable relationships that I am pleased to be able to renew this week," he added.</p>.<p>The port has a dry dock facility which could support Britain's two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the ministry said.</p>.<p>Britain sent warships to the Gulf last year to escort freight vessels after Iranian Revolutionary Guards stormed and detained the UK-flagged Stena Impero and its 23 crew as they sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.</p>
<p>Britain on Friday announced a £23.8 million ($30.5 million, 25.7 million euros) investment to triple the size of its base in an Omani port close to the sensitive waters of the Gulf.</p>.<p>The expansion of the "logistics hub" at Duqm will "facilitate Royal Navy deployments to the Indian Ocean" and "further support British Army training in Oman," the Ministry of Defence said.</p>.<p>"The long-standing friendships between the UK and the Gulf states are more important than ever," said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as he visited Oman and Qatar.</p>.<p>"Whether tackling Daesh (the so-called Islamic State group), or making our streets in the UK safer thanks to our intelligence networks, these are hugely valuable relationships that I am pleased to be able to renew this week," he added.</p>.<p>The port has a dry dock facility which could support Britain's two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the ministry said.</p>.<p>Britain sent warships to the Gulf last year to escort freight vessels after Iranian Revolutionary Guards stormed and detained the UK-flagged Stena Impero and its 23 crew as they sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.</p>