Today, the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement. The agreement will strengthen cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to emerging technology, trade and investment. This marks the latest development in the United States’ close partnership with Bahrain and our enduring commitment to the region in support of peace.
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Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement
preamble
The parties to this agreement are:
Highlighted the need to create a fully integrated regional security architecture in the Middle East to deter and respond to external threats.
The agreement established the Abraham Accords Declaration signed on September 15, 2020, the Negev Forum held for the first time in March 2022, and established new regional relationships and deepened the scope of cooperation between Middle Eastern countries. .
Affirms the parties’ desire to expand defense and security cooperation. Trade and Investment Relations. Collaboration in science and technology.
Building on the decades-long U.S. security partnership with the Bahraini military. and,
To promote broader regional security integration, strengthen mutual deterrence against external threats, and expand cooperation in trade, science and technology with like-minded countries in the Middle East. It is hoped that additional parties will be added in the future. Comply with this Agreement in furtherance of these purposes.
You agree to the following:
Article 1: Principle of cooperation
This Agreement is based on the following principles and beliefs shared by both parties:
- Cooperation between States Parties is based on the principles of full respect for the independence and sovereignty of each State Party and of its obligations under international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
- Cooperation between the Parties aims to strengthen security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East region by strengthening deterrence and defense integration and interoperability.
Article II: Defense and Security Cooperation
The cooperation of the Parties in the field of defense and security is based on a common commitment to stability and peace in the Middle East region.
It is the policy of the Parties to cooperate in order to prevent and counter external invasions of the territorial integrity of either Party.
External invasion, or the threat of external aggression, of the sovereignty, independence or territorial integrity of any State Party shall be a matter of grave concern to the other States Parties. In the event of external aggression or the threat of external aggression against a Party, the Parties shall, in accordance with their respective constitutions and laws, determine the need for additional defense and develop appropriate defense and deterrence forces. and shall immediately meet at the most senior level for the purpose of implementation. Responses determined by the Parties, including in the economic, military and political spheres. The parties stand ready to immediately share available and appropriate intelligence and intelligence in response to such events.
In order to further strengthen the security of the Parties and the stability of the Middle East, and to deter threats to the Parties, the Parties agree to:
- Further implement existing security agreements and arrangements.
- They will meet regularly on ways to further integrate their air and missile defense capabilities, special operations forces, and intelligence capabilities, with a view to working towards strengthening the integration of the Parties’ defense systems and deterrence, particularly in the air and sea domain. , cybersecurity, strategic communication, and mutual awareness of emerging threats.
- Further strengthen defense and security cooperation as a means of continuously strengthening military forces and defense capabilities and improving interoperability. This includes:
- training and military education programs;
- Provision of defense supplies and services.
- A combination of military drills and drills.
- Continue joint planning to counter threats to Parties, including the Guiding Principles, respective rules of engagement, and command and control, as appropriate.and
- Any other cooperation as mutually determined by the parties.
4. To coordinate regularly, at least semi-annually, on military and defense matters. This coordination shall include particular emphasis on joint efforts to deter and counter threats of external aggression against one or more States Parties.
5. The Parties shall also convene a Defense Working Group, convened and hosted annually by either Party. The Defense Working Group will be the primary forum for reviewing progress in implementing this article.
Each Party reaffirms its commitment to complying with its obligations under international law, including the laws of armed conflict.
Article 3: Economic, commercial and trade cooperation
Recalling the trade and investment agreement concluded between the parties, the parties agree to cooperate in the following respects:
- Deepen and strengthen economic partnerships among the Parties in order to promote economic integration between them and within the region.
- Identify strategic investment opportunities that benefit multiple Parties and develop projects that strengthen bilateral and multilateral economic and trade cooperation, including in the areas of supply chain resilience and infrastructure, and contribute to global economic development. support.
Article 4: Science, Technology, and Network Security
Recognizing that the long-term stability and prosperity of the Middle East region can be promoted by the growth of scientific and technological cooperation between the Parties through the development and deployment of reliable technologies that promote the national security of the Parties, I agree to the following: We’ll work with you to:
- Promote scientific and technical cooperation between the Parties, including through the negotiation of appropriate arrangements for such cooperation; Such cooperation shall be subject to agreements between the Parties in accordance with existing international agreements on scientific and technical cooperation and shall include:
- Partnerships and collaborations that foster and exchange innovative ideas, information and skills.
- Strengthen science and technology capacity, including by fostering broader and expanded relationships among the broad science and technology communities of the Parties.
- Promote science and technology exchange.and
- Other cooperation in various scientific and technical fields as mutually determined by the Parties.
2. Subject to the agreement of the Parties, each Party undertakes to protect its networks, communications systems, software, and hardware and to prevent inappropriate access to confidential information that could disrupt that Party’s networks. The purpose is to develop and share relevant standards, guidelines, and best practices. infrastructure, or routing of malicious data.
3. More secure, resilient, diverse, competitive, transparent and sustainable digital and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure supply chains, especially in global telecommunications. develop and promote.
Article V: Disputes and Performance
- The parties may enter into further agreements or arrangements as necessary and appropriate to perform this Agreement.
- Any differences or disputes regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved through negotiations between the parties and shall be referred to a national or international court, tribunal or other similar authority, or to a third party for resolution. It will not be done.
- All cooperation and activities under this Agreement shall be governed by the national laws of each party and dependent on the availability of funds.
- The purpose of this Agreement is to enforce other agreements and arrangements that exist between the Parties. The parties shall perform this Agreement in a manner consistent with their other agreements, having regard to their other arrangements.
Article VI: Amendments
This Agreement may be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties.
ARTICLE VII: SIGNATURE AND EFFECTIVENESS
- This Agreement is open for signature by the United States of America and the Kingdom of Bahrain (the “Signatories”).
- This Agreement shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date of the last written notice by the signatories to each other that they have completed all formalities necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement, and upon entry into force, the signatories shall You will be a party to this.
Article VIII: Additional Parties to this Agreement
- Parties may, by unanimous consent, invite other States positioned to further the objectives of this Agreement and thereby contribute to the security integrity and prosperity of the Middle East to accede to this Agreement. .
- This Agreement shall enter into force after each State Party has been notified in writing through diplomatic channels that it has completed all necessary procedures to become a Party to this Agreement.
- The effective date of this Agreement on which such country becomes a party to this Agreement shall be 30 days after the date of the last notification.
Article IX: Withdrawal
- After five years from the entry into force of this Agreement, any State Party may withdraw from the Agreement by notifying each State Party of its intention to withdraw in writing through diplomatic channels. Withdrawal shall take effect six months after the date of the last notification.
- In this regard, a party may withdraw from this Agreement, but any implementation arrangement or implementation agreement entered into by such party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will continue to be on its own terms and conditions, unless the terms of this Agreement provide otherwise. shall remain in force and effect based on. Specific Implementation Agreements or Implementation Agreements.
Done in Washington on September 13, 2023 in two original languages: English and Arabic. In case of discrepancies or ambiguities between texts in the two languages, English will prevail.