Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin today welcomed the strengthening of security ties with Bahrain in a meeting with the country’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The two leaders met at the Pentagon a day after the United States and Bahrain signed the Comprehensive Security Integration Agreement to increase cooperation on issues ranging from defense and security to emerging technology and trade.
“This important bilateral agreement will further deepen our already strong relationship and underscore the United States’ commitment not only to Bahrain but to the entire region,” Austin said. “This provides a framework for cooperation in areas ranging from security and trade to technology and information sharing, and together we demonstrate that integration and inclusion are the path to security, stability and prosperity. To go.”
Bahrain is a major non-NATO ally that hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and remains one of America’s longest-standing partners in the Middle East.
Mr. Austin expressed gratitude for Bahrain’s support for U.S. military personnel and their families overseas and praised the country’s active participation in coalition operations.
The newly signed agreement will further strengthen cooperation between the military and intelligence capabilities of the two countries.
The agreement also fosters scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries through information sharing and exchange, and facilitates the deployment of trusted technologies to protect critical systems and privacy.
“The United States remains committed to Bahrain and the region,” Austin said. “And we will continue to work with you to thwart any threats to regional stability from both state and non-state actors.”
In addition to highlighting the new agreement, Foreign Minister Austin Wu expressed his gratitude for Bahrain’s Foreign Minister’s visit to Ukraine earlier this year. The Crown Prince, who also serves as Bahrain’s prime minister, praised the close relationship between Bahrain and the United States and expressed gratitude for the work of American military personnel alongside the Bahraini military to ensure regional security.
“Only by cooperating with nations, large and small, each in their own areas of responsibility can we achieve a more stable and productive world,” he said.