Bahrain's Progress: Strategies To Outpace Iraq's Development

Bahrain and Iraq have a historic and current bilateral relationship, with both countries having a Shi'ite majority population and being part of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. In recent years, both countries have moved to establish a stronger relationship due to fears of growing Iranian interference. Bahrain has played a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly relations with most of its neighbours and the world community. It generally pursues a policy of close consultation with neighbouring states and works to narrow areas of disagreement.

Bahrain has been an active member of the coalition that fought to remove the Taliban regime from Afghanistan in 2001 and provided ships for the naval cordon in the Indian Ocean to intercept fleeing Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. However, Bahrain opposed unilateral action against Iraq in 2003 and annoyed Washington in the run-up to the war by seeking to defuse the crisis and offering Saddam Hussein asylum.

Bahrain's foreign relations have been put under strain and its human rights record has been called into question, for example, in the case of the Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who was granted refugee status by Australia in 2014 but was arrested in Thailand in 2018 and faced extradition to Bahrain, where he had previously been tortured for his political views.

In terms of how Bahrain can advance over Iraq, one key area is economic development. Bahrain has complied with steps taken by the GCC to coordinate economic development and has established special bilateral trade agreements. Bahrain has also been a member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS) since its founding in 1992, which provides an opportunity for economic growth and collaboration. Additionally, Bahrain has a strong relationship with the United States, which could provide further economic and military support.

Another area where Bahrain can advance is through improving its human rights record and addressing allegations of mistreatment of prisoners and a lack of due process. This includes allegations of torture and sexual abuse in government custody, as well as the use of capital punishment.

Finally, Bahrain can continue to strengthen its security and counter-insurgency measures, particularly in light of the low-level insurgency in the country, which has been supported by Iranian-backed groups. This includes disrupting suspected militant cells, intercepting operatives and weapons, and increasing security and surveillance measures.

Bahrain's foreign relations with Iraq

Bahrain has historically had a bilateral relationship with Iraq. However, in recent years, the relationship between the two countries has been mixed, with Bahrain criticising Iraq for what it perceives as interference in its internal affairs, especially since the 2011 uprising. Both countries have a Shi'ite majority population and are part of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation.

Bahrain has an embassy in Baghdad, and Iraq has an embassy in Manama. The current ambassador of Bahrain in Iraq is Salah Al Maliki, and the current ambassador of Iraq in Bahrain is Ahmed Nayef Rasheed Al-Dulaimi.

Since its independence in 1971, one of the most important objectives of Bahrain's foreign policy has been to contain perceived threats to the country's security. As the smallest state in the region, Bahrain feels vulnerable to political influences from more powerful neighbours, particularly Iran and Iraq. Bahrain regards close ties with Saudi Arabia and other Arab monarchial regimes as a means of countering these potentially harmful influences.

During the 1970s, the Baath socialist media in Baghdad frequently denounced Manama as an enemy of Arab nationalism and a puppet of Washington's imperialism because it allowed US naval vessels to use a naval base in Bahrain. The Bahraini government also believes that Baghdad has provided financial and other support to Bahraini opposition groups calling for the overthrow of the Al Khalifa dynasty.

In recent years, both countries have moved to establish a stronger relationship, fearing growing Iranian interference. With the decline of Iraq as a regional powerbroker, Bahrain has taken steps to improve relations with Iran and increase regional harmony, including encouraging Bahrain-Iran trade.

During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, Bahrain shared security concerns with the other five Arab monarchies in the Gulf: Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. All six countries joined Bahrain in the GCC, which, while ostensibly emphasising economic cooperation, increased the level of cooperation in security matters annually.

When fellow GCC member Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in 1990, Bahrain joined the collective military effort against Iraq by sending a small contingent of troops to the front lines in Saudi Arabia. It also allowed US military forces to use its naval and air facilities. After the liberation of Kuwait, Bahrain and the US strengthened their ties by signing a ten-year agreement in October 1991, which granted American forces access to Bahraini facilities and allowed the pre-positioning of US war material for future crises.

Bahrain opposed unilateral action against Iraq in 2003 and sought to defuse the crisis by offering Saddam Hussein asylum. During the Iraq War, which lasted from 2003 to 2011, Bahrain played a modest and moderating role in regional politics.

Bahrain's relationship with the US

Bahrain and the United States have been allies since Bahrain's independence from the UK in 1971. The two countries have maintained close relations, sharing economic and geopolitical interests. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is hosted by Bahrain, and the country has participated in US-led military coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Bahrain's security forces have also supported the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

The US has designated Bahrain as a Major Non-NATO Ally, and the two countries signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991, granting US forces access to Bahraini facilities and allowing the pre-positioning of war material for future crises. In 2006, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was implemented, generating additional commercial opportunities for both countries. In 2021, two-way trade between the US and Bahrain exceeded $2 billion.

The US provides assistance to Bahrain, enabling the country to obtain equipment and training for its defence forces, and to operate alongside US air and naval forces. This assistance strengthens Bahrain's interoperability for regional security and counterterrorism cooperation, boosts maritime defences, and improves Bahrain's ability to counter terrorism while adhering to international human rights obligations.

In 2023, the US and Bahrain signed a strategic security and economic agreement to further expand defence and intelligence collaboration.

Bahrain's relationship with Iran

Bahrain and Iran have had a strained relationship since the Iranian Revolution and the discovery of a planned Iran-sponsored coup in Bahrain in 1981. Bahraini suspicions of Iranian involvement in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain, and the country has periodically seized what it says are Iranian weapons and explosives shipments intended for opposition groups.

Bahrain, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, has endorsed the Trump administration's aggressive posture against Iran. Manama's longstanding suspicions of Iranian support for anti-government groups make Bahrain a flashpoint for regionalising an internal political struggle.

Bahrain's foreign minister has met with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, and according to a joint statement, they agreed to establish the necessary mechanisms to start talks between the two countries and examine the resumption of political ties. During a meeting with Russia's president, the king of Bahrain reportedly indicated that the kingdom looked forward to improving relations with Iran, and that there was no reason to delay the resumption of relations between the two countries.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and has a particularly tense relationship with Iran, located just across the Persian Gulf. In 2023, the Biden administration signed a security agreement with Bahrain, pledging its commitment to defend the country from attacks.

In 2016, Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protesters in Shi'ite majority Iran attacked the Saudi embassy in anger at Riyadh's execution of a leading Shi'ite cleric. However, in 2023, a senior U.S. diplomat assessed that Bahrain could restore diplomatic relations with Iran "sometime soon."

Bahrain has expressed anxiety over occasional but long-standing Iranian claims on the island kingdom as Iranian territory. In 1957, Iran's parliament passed a bill declaring Bahrain to be the country's fourteenth province. A UN-administered plebiscite conducted in 1970, shortly before Bahrain gained independence in 1971, concluded that the vast majority of Bahrainis wanted Bahrain to remain an independent Arab state. Although Iran formally accepted this outcome, Iranian officials, diplomats and journalists periodically raise the issue, causing considerable Bahraini irritation.

Bahrain's relationship with Saudi Arabia

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have a close and friendly relationship. Both countries are Sunni monarchies with a Sunni and Shiite population and are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

In 2006, Bahrain was part of the coalition that fought to liberate Kuwait from Iraq. Bahraini pilots flew air strikes in Iraq from the Sheik Isa Air Base. Bahrain was also hit by Scud missiles fired from Iraq.

During the Arab Spring, Bahrain's monarchy invited Saudi forces to suppress a rebellion, marking the first case of the GCC agreement on defence being used internally. Saudi Arabia was also concerned about preventing the spread of discontent within its territories.

Saudi Arabia is Bahrain's biggest export customer, importing Bahraini goods worth $140 million in October 2021 alone. The two kingdoms have strong reciprocal trade and a burgeoning tourism sector. The King Fahd Causeway, opened in 1986, has helped to strengthen relations between the two countries, with around 390 million users having travelled along it since its opening.

In 2018, Saudi Arabia, along with Kuwait and the UAE, provided Bahrain with a combined package of $10 billion, which was linked to a set of fiscal reforms.

Bahrain's internal politics

• Sectarian Dynamics: Bahrain has a Shi'ite majority population, which is a significant factor in its internal politics. The country's Shi'ite population has historically faced marginalization and discrimination, with the Sunni monarchy controlling political power. This sectarian divide has often led to tensions and unrest, with the Shi'ite community demanding greater political rights and economic opportunities.
• Relationship with Iran: Bahrain's internal politics are heavily influenced by its relationship with Iran. Iran, as a regional Shi'ite power, has been accused of exploiting its cultural and religious ties with Bahrain's Shi'ite population to advance its interests. This has led to concerns among Bahrain's Sunni leaders about Iranian interference and attempts to depose the monarchy.
• Human Rights Issues: Bahrain has faced criticism from human rights organizations and advocacy groups for its handling of political opposition. The government has been accused of quashing dissent, conducting mass arrests, and depriving activists of their citizenship. There have also been reports of prisoner mistreatment and a lack of due process.
• Foreign Influence: Bahrain's internal politics are shaped by its relationships with foreign powers. The country maintains strong ties with the United States, housing the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Additionally, Bahrain has historically been an ally of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. These external influences impact Bahrain's political dynamics and decision-making.

Overall, Bahrain's internal politics are characterized by sectarian tensions, foreign influence, and a delicate balance between maintaining stability and addressing calls for political reform.

Frequently asked questions