Bahrain's National Security: Elements And Strategies

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia situated on the Persian Gulf. It is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as its king. The country has a well-developed transport and communications infrastructure, a liberal economy, and a diverse society. Bahrain has a National Security Agency (NSA) or Bahrain Intelligence Agency (BIA) that serves as an investigative authority and is associated with the Ministry of the Interior. The NSA has the power to make arrests and works to counter terrorism and other security threats. Bahrain also has a professional military called the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) and close relations with the United States, hosting the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and participating in U.S.-led military coalitions.

Bahrain's National Security Agency (NSA)

The current president of the NSA is Talal bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who was appointed on 4 August 2016. Talal bin Mohammed is the son of Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who served as the Interior Minister of Bahrain for 31 years (1973–2004). Talal's great-grandfather was the ruler of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa (1872–1942). Talal's brother, Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, is the current ambassador of Bahrain to the United Kingdom.

Prior to Talal bin Mohammed's appointment, the director of the NSA was Major-General Adel bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Fadhel, who was appointed on 28 November 2011. The position of NSA director has often been occupied by cousins of the King, including Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, who was appointed in March 2008, and Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who served from September 2005 to 2008. The first director of the NSA, Abdul Aziz bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, was also a cousin of the King.

The NSA has been central to the Sunni Muslim-ruled kingdom's efforts to manage protests and occasional violence by members of the country's Shi'ite Muslim majority. In 2011, Bahrain suppressed an uprising by pro-democracy activists, many of whom were Shi'ites. The Bahraini government believes that the opposition aims to overthrow the monarchy by force and accuses Iran of aiding in deadly militant attacks on security forces.

Bahrain's relations with the US

Bahrain and the United States have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971, with close relations and shared economic and geopolitical interests. The US-Bahrain relationship was formalised with the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, initiated by the diplomatic recognition of Bahrain as a sovereign state by the US. The US embassy in Manama was opened in 1971, and the country's first resident ambassador, Joseph W. Twinam, was sent in 1974. The Bahraini embassy in Washington, D.C., opened in 1977.

Bahrain is a vital US partner in defence initiatives and hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command. Bahrain's security forces have supported the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, providing perimeter security at a military base. Bahrain was the first Arab state to lead a Coalition Task Force patrolling the Gulf region and has supported the coalition counter-piracy mission. The US designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2002, and the two countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in October 1991, granting US forces access to Bahraini facilities.

The US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force in 2006, generating additional commercial opportunities for both countries. In 2021, two-way trade exceeded $2 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2020. The primary US exports to Bahrain include aircraft, machinery, and motor vehicles, while the leading US imports from Bahrain include aluminium, oil, textiles, and plastics.

In 2023, the United States and Bahrain signed a strategic security and economic agreement to expand defence and intelligence collaboration. The Biden-Harris Administration has launched the "Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement" (C-SIPA), a new framework to promote cooperation across a range of areas, including defence, security, science, technology, and trade.

Bahrain has been a key regional partner in de-escalating tensions and promoting stability in the Middle East. In 2020, Bahrain normalised relations with Israel, becoming the fourth Arab state to recognise the country. Bahrain has also been an important partner in counterterrorism efforts and has participated in US-led military coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Bahrain's democratic process

Bahrain's political system is a constitutional monarchy, with the government appointed by the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The head of the government is the Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also the Prime Minister and Deputy Commander of the Bahrain Defence Force.

The parliament is made up of two chambers: the Council of Representatives, which is elected by universal suffrage, and the Consultative Council (or Shura Council), which is directly appointed by the King.

Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971, and the first ruler, Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, issued a decree for the election of a Constituent Assembly to draft and ratify a constitution. The constitution was enacted in 1973, and the first general election was held the same year. The National Assembly consisted of 44 members, 30 of whom were elected by native-born male citizens, with the remaining 14 being royally-appointed government ministers.

In 1999, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became the Emir of Bahrain and instituted wide-ranging political reforms, including granting women the right to vote, freeing all political prisoners, and holding parliamentary elections. In 2002, he declared Bahrain a kingdom and installed himself as King. The 2002 election was boycotted by the opposition, led by Islamic parties, due to the bicameral nature of the parliament and the veto power of the Shura Council.

Bahrain's political system has been criticised for not being truly democratic. Formal political parties are illegal, and elections are only held for the lower house of parliament, which is subservient to the royally-appointed upper house and the King. The largest opposition group, Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, was dissolved in 2016, and religious leaders have been prohibited from political participation. The government has been accused of using "strategic sectarianism" to discredit the opposition and has engaged in gerrymandering and demographic engineering to undermine majority participation in the political process.

The Bahraini government has also been criticised for human rights abuses, including the arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, opposition leaders, and defence lawyers. There have been repeated crackdowns on independent media, with all independent Bahraini media banned since 2017.

Bahrain's economy

Bahrain was the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to discover oil in 1932 and currently sources its oil and gas from two fields: the onshore Bahrain Field and the offshore Abu Sa'fa field, which is shared with Saudi Arabia. The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) is currently undertaking a $5 billion refinery modernisation project, the largest capital project in the country's history.

The banking and finance sector is the largest non-oil contributor to Bahrain's economy, with the country being home to 376 financial institutions and the second-largest Islamic finance hub after Malaysia, managing over $31.4 billion in assets. Aluminium manufacturing accounts for the majority of Bahrain's manufacturing sector and contributes 12% of its GDP. Bahrain's economy also benefits from its well-developed transport and communications infrastructure, which aids commercial operations.

In terms of international trade, the United States is a key partner, with two-way trade exceeding $2 billion in 2021. The primary US exports to Bahrain include aircraft, machinery, and motor vehicles, while the leading US imports from Bahrain include aluminium, oil, textiles, and plastics. Bahrain has also established bilateral relations with 190 countries worldwide and is a member of several international organisations, including the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.

Bahrain's military

The Kingdom of Bahrain's military is known as the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). It was established in 1968 by Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to safeguard the nation's primary interests and was initially named the National Guard. The following year, it was renamed the Bahrain Defence Force. The BDF is under the direct command of a commander-in-chief, who holds the rank of field marshal. The current commander-in-chief is Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Chief of Staff is Lieutenant General Theyab bin Saqer Al Noaimi. The government also has a Minister of Defence Affairs, who is responsible for the BDF's representation in the Cabinet.

The BDF consists of approximately 18,000 personnel, including the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Royal Bahraini Army, Royal Bahraini Navy, and the Royal Guard. The Royal Bahraini Army, headed by Lieutenant General Khalifa bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, is the ground force component of the BDF and consists of around 20,000 personnel. The army is made up of 3 brigades and 2 battalions, including armoured battalions, mechanized infantry brigades, an infantry battalion, artillery batteries, an air defence battalion, and a special forces battalion.

Bahrain has been developing its military capabilities through equipment purchases from countries like Turkey, the United States, and Britain. In recent years, they have acquired armoured vehicles, missile defence systems, and various other military equipment.

The BDF has participated in several conflicts, including the Gulf War, the War on Terror, and the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. During the Yemeni Civil War, Bahraini ground troops were involved in guarding the Yemeni-Saudi Arabian border, and sadly, several Bahraini soldiers lost their lives.

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