Bahrain-Saudi Arabia: Allies Or Enemies?

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have a close and friendly relationship. Both countries are ruled by Sunni monarchies, with both Sunni and Shiite populations, and are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain is situated in the Persian Gulf, with Saudi Arabia to the west and Qatar to the east. The two countries are connected by the King Fahd Causeway, which opened in 1986.

In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Bahrain's Shiite majority began protesting against the Sunni monarchy, calling for greater political freedom and equality. The Bahraini government requested help from neighbouring countries, and on March 14, the GCC agreed to deploy Peninsula Shield Force troops to Bahrain to secure key installations. The intervention included sending 1,000 troops and 150 vehicles from Saudi Arabia, as well as 500 police officers from the United Arab Emirates. This marked the first time the GCC used a collective military option to suppress a revolt.

The intervention was controversial, with the Bahraini opposition calling it an occupation and a declaration of war, while the Bahraini government and GCC characterised it as a response to Iranian influence and a means of preserving public order. The US, which has a naval base in Bahrain, described itself as shocked by the move but did not consider it an invasion.

The relationship between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is driven by economic, sectarian, and geopolitical factors. Saudi Arabia is Bahrain's largest trading partner, and the two countries have strong economic ties, with Saudi Arabia investing significantly in Bahrain's tourism, infrastructure, and industry. Additionally, Bahrain is home to the US Fifth Fleet, and any Saudi departure or shift in power in Bahrain could affect US military posture in the region.

In recent years, there have been efforts to improve relations between the two countries. In 2018, Bahrain reported the discovery of its largest oil field in over 80 years, and in 2020, Bahrain and Israel established bilateral relations, with Bahrain becoming one of the few Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel.

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia's close and friendly relations

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have historically enjoyed close and friendly relations. Both countries are ruled by Sunni monarchies, with both Sunni and Shiite populations, and both are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The two countries are geographically close, with Saudi Arabia lying to the west of Bahrain across the Gulf of Bahrain, and the countries are connected by the King Fahd Causeway.

Bahrain's strategic importance to Saudi Arabia is underpinned by economic, sectarian, and geopolitical reasons. The two kingdoms have strong economic ties, with Saudi Arabia being Bahrain's largest trading partner. Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in Bahrain's tourism, infrastructure, and industry.

During the Arab Spring, the Bahraini uprising threatened to topple the Bahraini monarchy, as had happened to long-serving strongmen across the Middle East. Citing fears of Iranian influence and its rights under the GCC charter, Bahrain's monarchy invited Saudi forces to suppress the rebellion. This marked the first time the GCC agreement on defence was used internally.

Saudi Arabia was also concerned about preventing the spread of discontent within its territories and maintaining the rule of the Al-Khalifa, a "key conservative Sunni ally". Additionally, Saudi Arabia sought to avoid the spread of Iranian influence in the region.

The intervention of Saudi and GCC forces in Bahrain in 2011 was met with international concern and condemnation, with the UN Secretary-General calling for "maximum restraint" and Iran characterising the move as an "invasion".

The construction of the King Fahd Causeway has strengthened bilateral relations, benefiting both countries economically and politically.

The Bahraini uprising during the Arab Spring

The 2011 Bahraini uprising was a series of anti-government protests in Bahrain led by the Shia-dominant and some Sunni minority Bahraini opposition from 2011 until 2014. The protests were inspired by the 2011 Arab Spring and uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The demonstrations escalated to daily clashes after the Bahraini government repressed the revolt with the support of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Peninsula Shield Force.

The protests were a series of sustained campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience and some violent resistance in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain. As part of the revolutionary wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and equality for the 70% Shia population. This expanded to a call to end the monarchy of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa following a deadly night raid on 17 February 2011 against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama, known locally as Bloody Thursday.

Protesters in Manama camped for days at the Pearl Roundabout, which became the centre of the protests. After a month, the government of Bahrain requested troops and police aid from the Gulf Cooperation Council. On 14 March, 1,000 troops from Saudi Arabia, 500 troops from the UAE, and naval ships from Kuwait entered Bahrain and crushed the uprising. A day later, King Hamad declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency. Pearl Roundabout was cleared of protesters, and the iconic statue at its centre was demolished.

Sporadic demonstrations have continued since. After the state of emergency was lifted on 1 June 2011, the opposition party, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, organized several weekly protests, usually attended by tens of thousands. On 9 March 2012, over 100,000 attended, and another on 31 August attracted tens of thousands. Daily smaller-scale protests and clashes continued, mostly outside Manama's business districts, and also in Riffa. By April 2012, more than 80 had died. The police response was described as a "brutal" crackdown on "peaceful and unarmed" protesters, including doctors and bloggers. The police carried out midnight house raids in Shia neighbourhoods, beatings at checkpoints, and denial of medical care in a campaign of intimidation. More than 2,929 people have been arrested, and at least five died due to torture in police custody.

The role of the Gulf Cooperation Council

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional, intergovernmental, political, and economic union that was established in 1981. It comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which are monarchies. The GCC's main headquarters are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The GCC has a twofold purpose: to promote political and economic cooperation among its members, and to advance the region's stability and prosperity.

The GCC has a common market that eases the movement of goods and services, with plans to create a fully integrated single market. It also has a customs union, which became fully operational in 2015. The GCC aims to establish a common currency, with a central bank, by 2010. However, this deadline was not met, and Oman and the UAE withdrew from the monetary union.

The GCC has also launched common economic projects, such as the GCC Interconnection Grid, which connects the power grids of member states. In addition, major rail projects are underway to connect the region, with over $200 billion invested in developing 40,000 kilometres of rail network.

The GCC has a unified military, the Peninsula Shield Force, which was formed in 1984. It was notably deployed in 2011 to suppress the Bahraini uprising, marking the first time the GCC agreement on defence was used internally.

The GCC Supreme Council is the highest decision-making entity of the GCC and is composed of the heads of state of the member states. The Ministerial Council, composed of the Foreign Ministers of all the member states, convenes every three months and is responsible for formulating policies and making recommendations. The Secretariat is the executive arm of the GCC and is headed by a Secretary-General.

The GCC has been a strong partner of the World Bank for over 50 years, and its members have benefited from the Bank's global knowledge and development experience through technical assistance programs. The World Bank supports the GCC's long-term economic diversification, development planning, human development, and the management of sustainable macroeconomic and fiscal policies.

The Shia majority's anti-government protests

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a small island country in West Asia situated in the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa royal family, who have been criticised for violating the human rights of dissidents, political opposition figures, and the country's Shia Muslim majority.

In 2011, inspired by the regional Arab Spring, Bahrain's Shia majority began large-scale anti-government protests against the ruling Sunni monarchy. Shia activists named February 14, 2011, the "Day of Rage" and called on the people to protest against the Al Khalifa government. This led to a widespread wave of government crackdowns on Shia citizens, including the detention and torture of men, women, and children, as well as the destruction of Shia mosques and cemeteries.

The Al Khalifa family arrived in Shia-majority Bahrain in 1783, and since then, the Shia community has faced worsening economic circumstances. While Bahrain's Shia population was estimated to be around 55% of Bahraini citizens in 1979, the increasing naturalisation of Sunni migrants has shifted this demographic balance. Despite this, most major mosques in the country are Shia.

The Shia opposition group, Al Wefaq, was established in 2001 by over 100 Shia scholars and has two primary goals: to oppose the current government and to change the structure of Bahraini society to be based on the rule of the people.

The 2011 protests resulted in a bloody crackdown, with the government requesting security assistance from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This led to thousands of arrests, systematic torture, and almost daily clashes between protesters and security forces, resulting in dozens of deaths. The protests highlighted the economic and political marginalisation of the Shia majority in Bahrain and their desire to participate in determining their own destiny.

The US's interests in Bahrain

The US has several interests in Bahrain, which have helped the two countries maintain close relations since Bahrain's independence in 1971. Here are some key US interests in Bahrain:

Military and Security Cooperation

Bahrain is a vital US partner in defense initiatives and regional security. The country hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command. Bahrain has supported the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and joined the US-led International Maritime Security Construct to promote freedom of navigation in the region. The two countries signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1991, granting US forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Bahrain was also the first Arab state to lead a Coalition Task Force patrolling the Gulf region.

Economic Relations

The US and Bahrain have a strong economic relationship, with a bilateral free trade agreement in place since 2006. In 2021, two-way trade exceeded $2 billion, with the US accounting for 12.4% of Bahrain's non-oil exports. Primary US exports to Bahrain include aircraft, machinery, and motor vehicles, while leading US imports from Bahrain include aluminum, oil, textiles, and plastics. Bahrain's economy remains dependent on oil and gas, but it has been diversifying, with financial services, manufacturing, and tourism as key sectors. Bahrain is also home to a significant number of US businesses, with many US financial institutions having a presence in the country.

Political Relations

The US has supported Bahrain's efforts to develop its parliamentary institutional capacity and encouraged inclusive and transparent governance. Bahrain has an elected lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, and an appointed upper house, the Shura Council. The US has provided assistance to Bahrain to help strengthen its interoperability for regional security and counterterrorism cooperation, as well as improve its maritime defenses and counter-terrorism capabilities.

Strategic Location

Bahrain's location in the Persian Gulf is strategically important for the US, particularly regarding energy security and maintaining a military presence in the region. Bahrain has been the site of a US naval base since 1947, even before its independence from the UK.

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