Politics Bahrain United States Country Analysis
what happened?
Bahrain has signed a wide-ranging agreement with the United States to enhance security and technical cooperation. The agreement, signed by Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, during a visit to the United States, has limited practical significance and instead seeks to strengthen existing close military and economic ties. It is intended to be formal and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to regional security. It serves as a template for similar agreements being negotiated with the UAE and Saudi Arabia (as China ramps up its diplomatic and military involvement in America’s traditional Gulf states).
Why is it important?
Bahrain already plays a role in the U.S. regional security architecture, as a base for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and for U.S.-led efforts to guard the Gulf and Red Sea against threats, primarily from Iran. . Bahrain’s existential fear of Iran’s revivalist intentions has made it the United States’ most reliable regional ally, making it more likely than other major countries to flirt with other strategic partners (i.e. China and Russia). low. Bahrain has already received advanced U.S. weapons, and U.S. officials say the first-of-its-kind so-called Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C‑SIPA) will include a security and It has publicly acknowledged that it is merely a formalization of ongoing work to expand security and defense cooperation. Building interoperability and intelligence capabilities. It also codifies the United States’ commitment to supporting the growth of Bahrain’s technology sector (through cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and chip supply), a key pillar of Bahrain’s economic development strategy. , also aimed at limiting Chinese involvement from the US perspective. Regional technology architecture.
The importance of this agreement lies primarily in its symbolism and potential for expansion to include other regional allies. The United States’ military and diplomatic withdrawal from the Gulf region in recent years has prompted major allies to diversify their strategic alliances and deepen ties, particularly with China. It helped broker the recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and conducted its first joint combat training with the UAE in August. . Officials expressed hope that other companies will join the C‑SIPA framework. Importantly, however, the agreement does not include a guarantee of mutual defense. Saudi Arabia (in exchange for the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel) and the UAE are reportedly demanding (and the US will not give guarantees for fear of being drawn into a new regional war) ), both of which have come under direct Iranian-linked attacks in recent years.
What’s next?
The United States will be Bahrain’s main international strategic partner from 2024 to 2028, and military cooperation will remain close, supporting Bahrain’s security and discouraging cooperation with rival world powers. Although the US alliance will remain a central strategic relationship for other Gulf Arab states, the lack of clear security and the broader geopolitical strategies of each country, including closer ties with China, will , will cause continued diversification of alliances.
The analysis and forecasts presented in this article are based on the EIU Country analysis service. This integrated solution provides unparalleled global insight covering the political and economic outlook of nearly 200 countries, enabling organizations to identify future opportunities and potential risks.
Politics Bahrain United States Country Analysis