RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations, the Saudi defense ministry said on Friday. In addition to the RSNF, represented by the Eastern Fleet, the participants in the exercise also included the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Border Guard in the Eastern Region, and the Ministry of Energy, represented by Saudi Aramco and Aramco Gulf Operations Company The exercise was designed to help protect maritime lines of communication, improve the ability to confront threats to oil installations, guarantee freedom of maritime navigation, and enhance cooperation and coordination among the participating units. It included a number of lectures, as well as training in ways to deal with floating mines, defend vital installations and oil fields, and confront unmanned boats and drones. The director of the exercise, Rear Adm. Khalid Al-Shammari, said the exercise also aimed to increase the readiness of participating units, strengthen joint actions, raise levels of coordination, improve the exchange of information, and enhance joint leadership and communications, to help guarantee the security and safety of vital installations and oil fields, along with freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.