Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the United States will strengthen its strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain during a visit to Washington by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Bahrain is one of the United States’ longest and closest partners in the Middle East, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, a major non-NATO ally, and a major security partner. To further strengthen these ties, the administration is launching the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) with Bahrain. This is a new framework to foster cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to science, technology and trade. . The Crown Prince’s visit to Washington is the culmination of nearly a year of diplomatic activity, including multiple visits by senior U.S. officials to Manama, and follows the Crown Prince’s visit to Washington and bilateral talks with Vice President Harris in 2022. It is something.
At the Jeddah Summit in July 2022, the President outlined a broad and positive vision for a Middle East that is more secure, prosperous, and integrated in both the regional and global economies. C-SIPA formalizes cooperation to deter regional conflicts, enhance regional stability, reduce tensions, and enhance trade and economic cooperation through the development and deployment of advanced technologies with trusted vendors By doing so, we will further advance that vision. The agreement follows last week’s announcement at the G20 of a transformative economic corridor between India, the Middle East and Europe, the development of which will bring unprecedented opportunities to the Gulf region, which serves as an economic engine and gateway between continents. It turns out. The United States is pleased with the finalization of C-SIPA and is ready to begin its implementation in earnest.
Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement
Secretary Blinken and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman signed C-SIPA today in an official ceremony at the State Department. This new bilateral agreement provides the basis for cooperation among a broader range of countries that share common interests and a common vision on deterrence, diplomacy, security, economic integration and mitigating conflicts in the region. There is a possibility that it will happen. C-SIPA is the latest expression of the United States’ enduring commitment to Bahrain and the region in support of peace and shared prosperity.
After two decades of major conflict in the Middle East, Americans are benefiting from a more peaceful, secure region, and a region that is more integrated with the domestic and broader global economy. Our partnership under C-SIPA achieves its goals by:
- Strengthen deterrence through expanded defense and security cooperation, interoperability, and mutual intelligence capability building. C-SIPA will help formalize steps being taken by U.S. Central Command to integrate regional air and missile defense systems and increase maritime domain awareness, among other efforts.
- Build on the existing U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement to foster cooperation in trade and investment.
- Encourage investment in global supply chain resilience and infrastructure.and
- Accelerate the development and deployment of trusted technologies, including digital and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure supply chains, to support secure and resilient global communications networks. C-SIPA is the first binding U.S. international agreement of its kind to foster cooperation in the development and deployment of trusted technologies, a key feature of today’s international security environment.
US-Bahrain Strategic Partnership
Although the United States established official relations with Bahrain in 1971, cultural and social relations between the United States and Bahrain date back to the 19th century, when American missionaries came to Japan and built schools, hospitals, and churches; All are still in operation. Since then, Bahrain has become one of the United States’ closest partners in the Middle East region.
defense and security cooperation
- Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet (one of seven numbered fleets around the world) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Bahrain hosts thousands of U.S. military personnel and is the only country in the U.S. Central Command region that hosts military spouses and families. It also hosts and is a member of the International Maritime Security Architecture, which consists of a 38-nation Allied Maritime Force and her 11-nation membership. The US military presence in Bahrain dates back to World War II. This presence has advanced U.S. interests by keeping critical commercial shipping lanes safe, deterring threats, and enabling broader coalition operations.
- Bahrain was the first Gulf state to receive the F-16 in the 1990s. In March 2023, Bahrain received the first of 16 F-16 Block 70 fighters. This makes the company the first customer to receive the latest generation Block 70 aircraft, the purchase of which will almost double the size of his F-16 squadron in Bahrain.
- After NAVCENT established Task Force 59 in September 2021, Bahrain became the first regional partner to collaborate with the U.S. Navy on the integration of new unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. Last year, Bahrain pledged to build a multinational fleet in partnership with regional countries and the United States. 100 unmanned surface vessels.
- NAVCENT and Bahrain conduct large-scale bilateral military exercises each year with a particular focus on the maritime domain. The next iteration of this exercise, DIAMOND DEFENDER 2024, will focus on maritime domain awareness, command, control, and communications while integrating manned and unmanned capabilities.
- Bahrain has been a major non-NATO ally since 2002 and a major security partner since 2021. C-SIPA will be an important instrument to strengthen the historic record of defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
Regional integration cooperation
- Bahrain has contributed to supporting the regional vision of de-escalation and broader integration, including with the Gulf Cooperation Council and other countries in the Middle East region.
- Bahrain will benefit from the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced at the recent G20 meeting in India. The corridor has a vision of connecting ports and railways across the continent, opening up new markets and enhancing trade across the region.
- Bahrain normalized diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 and has welcomed a series of senior Israeli leaders, businessmen, medical professionals and young people to Bahrain.
- Arabs and Israelis recently came together in the Negev Forum, the largest since the 1990s, to deepen existing areas of cooperation and explore new areas of cooperation. Bahrain co-chairs the Negev Forum’s Regional Security and Health Working Group with the United States.
- In 2021, Bahrain opened direct flights to Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, further strengthening people-to-people connections.
commercial and economic relationships
- Bahrain is an important economic partner, and a free trade agreement with the United States entered into force in 2006. Since then, bilateral trade has more than tripled, from her $780 million to his nearly $3 billion last year.
- Last year, Bahrain opened a U.S. trade zone where U.S. companies can develop new products and access untapped markets, making its supply chain more resilient. During the Crown Prince’s visit, the two sides discussed strategic initiatives that benefit the United States and Bahrain in areas such as global supply chain resiliency, diversification, and critical infrastructure, including through “friendshoring” with trusted allies and partners. We welcomed the opportunity to identify investment opportunities.
- During the crown prince’s visit, the two countries set a goal to open direct flights between the United States and Bahrain by summer 2024. This month, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, in collaboration with the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority, will begin preparing the following safety assessments: If successful, it would pave the way for direct flights between the two countries.
- Bahrain’s Gulf Air has purchased 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to serve its long-haul routes, three of which are configured to serve US routes. Boeing has already delivered eight planes, with two more scheduled for delivery this fall and the rest in the next few years.
- During the visit, both sides pledged to explore ways to cooperate on commercial advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of Bahrain’s clean energy transition. SMR is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to address the climate crisis by accelerating the deployment of innovative zero-carbon technologies.
- In 2022, Bahrain becomes U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s first Global Entry partner country in the region. Since then, many Bahraini travelers have qualified for quick and safe travel to the United States. To qualify for Global Entry, Bahrain had to meet stringent security standards that demonstrate a long-standing and trusted partnership.
Governance and human rights
- Human rights are an important part of the U.S.-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue and an integral part of the President’s national security strategy. The most recent Strategic Dialogue was held in July 2023 and was co-chaired by Secretary Blinken and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Zayani. This format allowed the two countries to have a constructive dialogue on the importance of universal values, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The promotion of human rights was also a key topic on the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s visit to Washington this week.
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