Hillary's Bahrain Trip: What's The Agenda?

While Hillary Clinton has never actually been to Bahrain, she has had a notable relationship with the country during her time as Secretary of State. Clinton has commented on the violence in Bahrain, calling for democratic reform and an end to the use of force against demonstrators. She has also supported a proposed dialogue between the Bahraini government and its opponents. Additionally, Clinton's foundation has been accused of a conflict of interest regarding a meeting between Clinton and the Bahraini crown prince, which took place after a $32 million donation to the Clinton Foundation.

Hillary Clinton condemns Bahrain violence

In 2011, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the violence in Bahrain, calling on the government to end its use of force against protesters and move towards democratic reform. Clinton warned that the US had made it clear to Bahraini officials that "they're on the wrong track" and expressed deep concern over the crackdown on demonstrators, which resulted in injuries and arrests. She emphasised the importance of protecting human rights and the need for a peaceful resolution to the unrest.

Clinton's comments came in response to the Bahraini government's crackdown on anti-government demonstrators who had gathered in the capital, Manama, during the Arab Spring. Inspired by protests in Egypt and Tunisia, the demonstrators in Bahrain, a majority-Shia nation ruled by a Sunni monarchy, demanded an end to discrimination and the establishment of autonomy for the Shia community. The protests escalated, with the Bahraini government declaring a "State of National Security" and deploying riot police, tanks, and helicopters to disperse the demonstrators.

Clinton, in her role as Secretary of State, called for an end to the violence on both sides and urged the Bahraini government to return to negotiations. She stated that the US deplored the use of force against demonstrators and wanted to see a peaceful resolution. However, she stopped short of holding Bahrain to the same standard as Egypt during its 18 days of protests, citing the potential for a non-democratic outcome in the transition to democracy.

Despite Clinton's initial condemnation of the violence and calls for reform, critics have argued that her actions as Secretary of State fell short of her professed values. They point to the Obama administration's subsequent weapons deals with Bahrain and the lifting of the ban on arms sales to the country as evidence of a failure to hold the Bahraini government accountable for its repression of the Shia community.

The situation in Bahrain has continued to be a source of tension, with the Shia-Sunni divide remaining a central issue. Clinton's role in US-Bahrain relations during her tenure as Secretary of State has been scrutinised, with some alleging a conflict of interest due to donations made by the Bahraini crown prince to the Clinton Foundation.

Clinton calls for democratic reform in Bahrain

In February 2011, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for an end to violence in Bahrain and for the government to move towards democratic reform. Clinton warned of the dangers in the transition to democracy and the possibility of the process being hijacked. She emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights, including the right to assemble and express oneself freely.

Clinton's comments came amid protests in Bahrain, a Shia-majority country ruled by a Sunni monarchy, where government forces had injured more than 50 people. She criticised the government's use of force against protesters, stating that the US had made it clear to Bahraini officials that "they're on the wrong track".

Clinton's stance on Bahrain was notably less strong than her position on Egypt, where she had called for a "transition" to democratic elections after days of protests. When asked if the United States would hold Bahrain to the same standard, Clinton replied that they "try to hold everyone to a similar standard" but acknowledged that they "cannot dictate the outcomes" or "tell countries what they're going to do."

Clinton's approach to Bahrain has been the subject of scrutiny, with some criticising her for not applying her professed values to the country. While she initially expressed concern and called for reform, critics argue that her actions fell short, particularly in comparison to her stance on other countries during the Arab Spring.

Clinton's criticism of Bahrain's government

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton professed to uphold certain values, but critics argue that she did not apply them to smaller countries like Bahrain. During the Arab Spring, Clinton took a sanguine view of the movement, demanding democratic transitions in Egypt and Libya, and calling for negotiations in Syria. However, her critics argue that she did not hold Bahrain to the same standards.

Clinton called for an end to violence in Bahrain and for the government to move towards democratic reform. She warned of the dangers in the transition to democracy and the possibility of hijacking the process. She also emphasised the importance of protecting human rights and the right to assemble and express oneself. Clinton urged Bahrain to return to the negotiating table and expressed deep concern over the government's crackdown on protesters.

However, critics argue that Clinton's actions did not match her words. Despite expressing alarm over the crackdown, by 2012, the Obama administration was signing new weapons deals with Bahrain. In 2015, the administration lifted its ban on arms sales to the country, despite intensified repression. Clinton's critics attribute this to a desire to preserve America's Fifth Fleet naval headquarters in Bahrain and counter Iranian influence in the region. They argue that Clinton turned a blind eye to human rights violations and failed to uphold her professed values when it came to Bahrain.

Clinton's support for dialogue between the Bahraini government and its opponents

In February 2011, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for an end to violence in Bahrain and for the government to move towards democratic reform. Clinton and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, agreed to support a proposed dialogue between the Bahraini government and its opponents.

Clinton underscored the necessity of restraint by the security forces in Bahrain and welcomed steps by Bahraini Crown Prince Selman bin Hamad al-Khalifa to initiate a meaningful dialogue with all citizens. She said:

> We've been very clear from the beginning, that we do not want to see any violence. We deplore it. We think it is absolutely unacceptable. We very much want to see the human rights of the people protected including the right to assemble, the right to express themselves and we want to see reform.

Clinton's comments came after anti-government demonstrators, inspired by protests in Egypt and Tunisia, spilled into the Bahraini capital of Manama in February 2011. The protests grew and the Bahraini government responded by declaring a "State of National Security" and deploying riot police, tanks, and helicopters, resulting in several deaths and hundreds of arrests.

The United States and Bahrain have since reiterated their shared commitment to deterring and confronting threats to the Kingdom of Bahrain and enhancing regional peace and security. In recent years, the two countries have collaborated on issues such as countering global threats like transnational organized crime and terrorism, advancing human rights, and addressing the climate crisis.

Clinton's meeting with the Bahraini crown prince

While serving as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton met with the Bahraini crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, in June 2009. This meeting was coordinated by Huma Abedin, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, and Doug Band, a senior executive at the Clinton Foundation. The crown prince had previously donated $32 million to the Clinton Global Initiative in 2005 and was described by Band as a "good friend of ours".

The meeting between Clinton and the Bahraini crown prince has been the subject of criticism and allegations of a conflict of interest. Clinton's opponents, particularly Republicans and right-leaning press, have characterised it as a quid pro quo arrangement, implying that Clinton granted access and special treatment to donors of the Clinton Foundation during her tenure as Secretary of State. These allegations were fuelled by the release of emails from Clinton's time as Secretary of State, obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

In response to the criticism, Clinton's campaign spokesman, Josh Schwerin, denied that Clinton ever took action as Secretary of State due to donations to the Clinton Foundation. He stated, "No matter how this group tries to mischaracterize these documents, the fact remains that Hillary Clinton never took action as Secretary of State because of donations to the Clinton Foundation." Additionally, the State Department rejected any allegations of undue influence, emphasising that there was no single channel for access to Secretary Clinton and that connections between senior aides and the Clinton Foundation were not indicative of an untoward relationship.

The controversy surrounding Clinton's meeting with the Bahraini crown prince is part of a broader discussion about US-Bahrain relations and the former's approach to democratic reform and human rights in the Middle Eastern nation. As Secretary of State, Clinton called for an end to violence in Bahrain and encouraged democratic reform, but her critics argue that her actions did not align with her professed values, particularly in comparison to her stance on Egypt during the Arab Spring.

Frequently asked questions