The United States and Bahrain have signed a strategic security and economic agreement that the Biden administration sees as a potential model for strengthening relationships with other countries in the Persian Gulf.
The agreement, which took a year to negotiate, includes expanded defense and technology cooperation, intelligence capacity-building, and Bahrain’s participation in a new trade corridor connecting India to Europe through the Middle East. The trade route plans were announced during President Biden’s visit to the G-20 summit in New Delhi.
The Bahrain deal is part of the Biden administration’s broader efforts to strengthen relationships in the Middle East, particularly in the Persian Gulf, to counter Chinese and Russian influence and enhance defense ties to deter Iran and other potential aggressors.
The agreement was signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. While it is a bilateral agreement, the administration sees it as a foundation for a broader coalition of countries that share a common vision on deterrence, diplomacy, economic and security integration, and conflict de-escalation.
The agreement, although legally binding, does not require congressional approval and does not involve specific weapons sales. It formalizes the already close military relationship between the United States and Bahrain.
The United States and Bahrain have committed to working together to deter and confront external aggression if an attack occurs, but the agreement does not establish a mutual security pact. Instead, it ensures immediate consultation and cooperation in the event of an ongoing external aggression.
The ultimate goal of agreements like this is to prevent the worst-case scenario by fostering stability and cooperation. Bahrain is an essential part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen defense and intelligence networks in the Persian Gulf and develop a joint strategy against Iranian aggression.
In contrast to the challenging relationship with Saudi Arabia, the administration has been successful in persuading Bahrain to join the Arab-Israeli peace deals known as the Abraham Accords. Bahrain, along with the United Arab Emirates, established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020.
However, there are still obstacles to overcome. Saudi Arabia desires a mutual defense treaty with the United States and approval for a comprehensive nuclear power program, which the administration is not yet ready to provide. Additionally, both Saudi Arabia and the United States seek progress toward an independent Palestinian state, which is challenging under the current Israeli government.
During the signing ceremony, Secretary Blinken expressed hope that other countries would join the agreement to strengthen regional stability, economic cooperation, and technological innovation.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman believes that the agreement, officially known as the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement, will serve as the foundation for a new global architecture. He envisions additional countries joining the agreement and considers it as significant as past global upheavals.
Secretary Blinken also emphasized that human rights issues are a core pillar of U.S. foreign policy, and discussions on these matters will continue in future meetings.
Bahrain faced scrutiny in the past for its handling of protests by the Shiite majority, which led to a crackdown supported by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Although some progress has been made in addressing human rights concerns, challenges remain.
