Vice President Kamala Harris today met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. They discussed the situation in Gaza, including common efforts to protect civilians and scale up humanitarian assistance. The two leaders further emphasized the need for stabilization in the Middle East region and discussed mutual efforts to strengthen regional deterrence and prevent regional escalation. The Vice President and Crown Prince condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which pose a direct threat to freedom of navigation and global trade in one of the world’s most important waterways. The Vice President stressed that the actions of the Iranian-backed Houthis are illegal, reckless and endanger innocent lives. The Vice President and Crown Prince endorsed the United Nations Security Council’s condemnation statement on December 1, 2023, the subsequent condemnation statement by 44 countries on December 19, 2023, and the international organization Operation Prosperity Guardian. It highlighted the broad consensus reflected in its formation. A naval coalition of more than 20 countries, including Bahrain, defensively patrols the Red Sea to protect maritime traffic. The two leaders also discussed an important warning statement made last week, supported by 14 countries, including Bahrain, calling on the Houthis to cease their illegal attacks on commercial ships. The Vice President reaffirmed the close and enduring bilateral relationship between the United States and Bahrain and their close cooperation in regional security, defense, intelligence, and economic relations, as well as expanded cooperation in trade, science, and technology. . Implementation of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) signed last year.
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