Britain’s ability to maintain a global military presence post-Brexit has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the Royal Navy’s new permanent base in the Gulf, according to one of Britain’s most senior officers.

And, at a time when Iran is continuing to pose a serious threat to the security of the oil-rich Gulf region, the Navy’s new HMS Juffair base at the Bahraini port of Mina Salman will enable Britain to play its part in keeping the region’s vital sea-lanes open.

The Navy’s new £40 million base, which was built with the Bahraini government agreeing to pay most of the cost, will allow the Navy to maintain a permanent presence in the region, without having to return warships to Britain every six months for routine maintenance.

The base can also be used by other British forces, such as the Army and Special Forces, to conduct operations throughout the region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

In an exclusive interview with the Telegraph, General Sir Christopher Deverell, the commander of Britain’s Joint Forces Command, said yesterday’s official opening of the base, where the Duke of York was the guest of honour, was an important step towards the development of “a global Britain.”