Since the beginning of 2023, developments in relations between the two Gulf countries appeared to be heating up.
A major bridge project linking Qatar and Bahrain is set to resume, authorities have confirmed, in the latest sign of warming relations after years of political crisis.
The move was announced during a meeting between Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who visited the country over the weekend.
According to Doha News Agency, during the talks, both countries instructed their respective authorities to complete the plan and begin the implementation phase.
Bahrain News Agency said Crown Prince Salman and Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the Gulf country’s foreign minister, “discussed the project and instructed the relevant authorities of both countries to finalize the plan and begin implementation of the project.” Ta.
The focus of the high-level talks revolved around strengthening bilateral relations between Qatar and Bahrain across several areas.
The Crown Prince and Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa also participated in the talks at Qudaibiya Palace, underscoring the importance of cooperation and exploring ways to further strengthen and develop existing cooperation.
Qatar-Bahrain Bridge Project
Plans to build the bridge were stalled in 2017 when Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, decided to cut ties with Qatar and imposed an illegal land, air and sea blockade on Doha.
The crisis was resolved in 2021 with the re-establishment of diplomatic trade and transport ties between Doha and all four countries. However, although all parties to the crisis quickly resolved the issue by signing the Al-Ula Declaration in 2021, relations between Doha and Manama remained strained.
Qatari and Bahraini authorities announced the full restoration of diplomatic relations in April after a second follow-up committee meeting in Riyadh. Since the beginning of 2023, relations between the two Gulf countries appeared to have warmed.
In January, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met in Abu Dhabi, their second meeting since the outbreak of the conflict.
In February, the foreign ministers of Qatar and Bahrain met for the first time since the GCC crisis to “finalize the special file pending between the two countries.”
With the recent restoration of diplomatic relations between Qatar and neighboring countries, the causeway project has resumed. When completed, the bridge will be the world’s longest permanent causeway.
The road will mirror the King Fahd Causeway, which connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and will link the northern region of Qatar with Bahrain’s east coast. Once completed, the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway will effectively reduce travel time between Bahrain and Qatar from five hours to 30 minutes.
Spanning approximately 40 kilometers, the bridge consists of a dual two-lane highway with a rail platform, with a total of four lanes, including an emergency lane in both directions.
Palestine is on the agenda
During the meeting, the two sides also delved into regional and international issues, including Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
According to QNA, both sides emphasized the immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and called for the implementation of the international decision to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since Israel’s brutal war in Gaza began on October 7, Israel has killed more than 12,000 Palestinians, including 4,710 children.
Bahrain announced in early November that it had expelled Israel’s ambassador to Manama and recalled the ambassador from Tel Aviv, citing the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza.
Bahrain’s parliament said in a statement that the move was part of measures taken to support “the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
“We confirm the departure of the Ambassador to Israel, the return of the Bahraini Ambassador from Israel, and the suspension of economic relations,” the statement read.
Bahrain normalized relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the controversial Abraham Accords, which also established ties with the UAE and Morocco.