Us Influence In Bahrain: A Complex Relationship

The United States and Bahrain have been allies since the latter gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. The two countries have maintained close relations, with shared economic and geopolitical interests. The US has been a significant supplier of defence equipment to Bahrain, and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain. The two countries have also signed a free trade agreement, which has increased commercial opportunities and bilateral trade. The US has also supported Bahrain's efforts to develop its parliament's institutional capacity and encouraged inclusive and transparent governance.

The US and Bahrain have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971

The US and Bahrain have been allies since the latter gained independence from the UK in 1971. Diplomatic relations were established that year, with the US opening an embassy in Manama, Bahrain, and sending a resident ambassador in 1974. Bahrain opened an embassy in Washington, D.C., in 1977.

The two countries have maintained close relations, with shared economic and geopolitical interests. The US has been a significant supplier of defence equipment to Bahrain, and the countries signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1991, which granted US forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensured the right to pre-position material for future crises. The agreement also enabled the long-term basing of US naval and other military elements in Bahrain, with the country serving as the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. The US designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2002.

The countries have also collaborated on counterterrorism efforts, with Bahrain participating in the US-led anti-ISIL coalition and providing security forces to support the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Bahrain has also been a member of the US-led International Maritime Security Construct, which aims to protect maritime trade in the Gulf region.

In terms of economic relations, the US and Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement, which came into force in 2006. This agreement has generated additional commercial opportunities and increased bilateral trade. The primary US exports to Bahrain include aircraft, machinery, and motor vehicles, while Bahrain exports aluminium, oil, textiles, and plastics to the US.

The US has also supported Bahrain's efforts to develop its parliamentary institutional capacity and encouraged inclusive and transparent governance.

The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain

The Fifth Fleet was first established during World War II in 1944 and played a significant role in defeating Japanese forces in the Central Pacific. After the war, the fleet was deactivated for 48 years until it was reactivated in 1995. Since then, it has contributed to the Global War on Terrorism and continues to project US naval power in the Middle East.

The fleet's current configuration includes a Carrier Strike Group (CSG), an Amphibious Ready Group or Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), and other ships and aircraft. It has a significant number of personnel, with almost 15,000 people serving afloat and 1,000 support personnel ashore.

The presence of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain is a result of the close relations between the two countries, which have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971. The US-Bahrain relationship is underpinned by shared economic and geopolitical interests. In 2002, the US designated Bahrain as a Major Non-NATO Ally, reflecting the country's key role in regional security and defence initiatives. Bahrain's participation in US-led military coalitions, such as the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, further highlights the importance of the US-Bahrain partnership.

Bahrain is a Major Non-NATO Ally

Bahrain and the United States have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971. 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 on August 15. The US embassy in Manama was opened on September 21, 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.

In 2002, the US designated Bahrain as a Major Non-NATO Ally. A Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the US government to countries that have strategic working relationships with the US Armed Forces while not being members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Bahrain plays a key role in the region's security architecture and is a vital US partner in defence initiatives. Bahrain hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command and participates in US-led military coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. 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 with a deployment of its flagship.

Bahrain's designation as an MNNA confers a variety of military and financial advantages that are otherwise unobtainable by non-NATO countries. Bahrain is eligible for loans of material, supplies, or equipment for cooperative research, development, testing, or evaluation purposes. It can also enter into agreements with the US for the cooperative furnishing of training on a bilateral or multilateral basis, if the financial arrangements are reciprocal and provide for reimbursement of all US direct costs. Bahrain is also eligible, to the maximum extent feasible, for priority delivery of Excess Defence Articles transferred under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act.

In addition to the military and security cooperation between the two countries, the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force in 2006, generating additional commercial opportunities for both countries. In 2021, US-Bahrain 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.

The US and Bahrain have a Free Trade Agreement

The US and Bahrain have enjoyed close relations since Bahrain's independence in 1971, with shared economic and geopolitical interests. The US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (BHFTA) entered into force on 11 January 2006, generating additional commercial opportunities for both countries.

The agreement has had a positive impact on two-way trade, with 100% of industrial and consumer goods flowing without tariffs from day one. This has resulted in increased exports for US farmers and created new opportunities for US financial service providers and companies offering telecommunications, audiovisual, express delivery, distribution, healthcare, architecture, and engineering services.

The US-Bahrain FTA has also supported Bahrain's economic and political reforms and enhanced its commercial relations with a key economic leader in the Arabian Gulf. Bahrain has been diversifying its economy away from oil and gas production, creating a climate that attracts foreign investment and businesses.

The US and Bahrain have a long history of diplomatic relations, with the US recognising Bahrain as a sovereign state in 1971 and establishing an embassy in Manama, which was opened on 21 September 1971. Bahrain, in turn, opened its embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1977. This was followed by the appointment of a resident ambassador, Joseph W. Twinam, in 1974.

The US-Bahrain FTA is overseen by the United States-Bahrain Joint Committee (JC), which is chaired by the Office of the US Trade Representative and Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The JC discusses a range of trade issues and initiatives to ensure effective implementation and compliance with the agreement.

The US has been a significant supplier of defence equipment to Bahrain

The United States has been a significant supplier of defence equipment to Bahrain. In 2019, Bahrain purchased various defence systems, including Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, from the United States. This cooperation strengthens Bahrain’s defence capabilities and reinforces military ties between the two countries.

The US and Bahrain have been allies since Bahrain's independence in 1971 and have maintained close relations with 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 on 15 August 1971. The US embassy in Manama was opened on 21 September 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.

In October 1991, the two countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement, granting US forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. This agreement enabled the long-term basing of US naval and other military elements in Bahrain and was renewed in 2017 for a period of 15 years. Bahrain has served as the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet since 1991, playing a significant role in ensuring regional stability through cooperation on maritime security with Gulf partners.

The US designated Bahrain as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2002, reflecting the strong security partnership between the two countries. Bahrain has participated in US-led military coalitions, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and supported counter-piracy missions in the Gulf region. Bahrain's security forces have also contributed to international security efforts, such as providing perimeter security at a military base for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

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