British foreign secretary avoids controversy in Bahrain talk
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Britain's outspoken foreign secretary has stayed away from controversy in a speech to Mideast leaders after earlier criticizing ally Saudi Arabia.
Boris Johnson gave a speech Friday night marking the start of the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.
Johnson's speech came after The Guardian newspaper released a video this week of him saying U.K. ally Saudi Arabia, as well as Iran, are engaged in Mideast "proxy wars."
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Friday's comments avoided that, instead focusing on how Britain was expanding its military presence in the Gulf, mentioning its under-construction naval base in Bahrain.
Johnson called Britain's decision to leave the Gulf in the 1970s a mistake, saying: "Your security is our security."
He also said he supports the Iran nuclear deal, though he stressed the need to remain "clear-eyed and vigilant."