Us Military Presence In Bahrain: Strategic Alliance Explained

The US Navy has maintained a presence in Bahrain since World War II, when a small detachment was deployed to the site of what was then a British Royal Navy base. Today, the US Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) is the only US naval base in the Central Region, and the home port of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. The base is of strategic importance to the US, providing support for naval and marine activities in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain

NSA Bahrain is a co-base, run by the US but under the authority, laws, and regulations of Bahrain. It is the most important base in the region for naval and marine activities, providing support through logistics, supply, protection, and other services to both the US Armed Forces and coalition assets. The base is also the primary headquarters for the US Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT).

The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the US Navy, with an area of responsibility encompassing approximately 2.5 million square miles, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It was first established during World War II in 1944 and played a significant role in the defeat of Japanese forces in the Central Pacific. The fleet was deactivated in 1947 but reactivated in 1995 to contribute to the Global War on Terrorism and project US naval power in the Middle East.

The fleet's usual configuration includes a Carrier Strike Group, Amphibious Ready Group, Expeditionary Strike Group, and other ships and aircraft, with around 15,000 personnel serving afloat and 1,000 support personnel ashore. The Fifth Fleet conducts naval operations and projects US power in the Middle East, often in coordination with coalition forces.

Bahrain is a major non-NATO ally of the US

Bahrain is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, a designation that gives the country enhanced access to U.S. weapons and training. Bahrain has been a longtime ally of the U.S. and is pivotal to maintaining security in the Persian Gulf. The country has hosted a U.S. naval command headquarters for the Gulf region since 1948 and the United States and Bahrain have had a formal Defense Cooperation Agreement since 1991. Bahrain was designated by the United States as a "major non-NATO ally" in 1992. There are over 7,000 U.S. forces, mainly Navy, in Bahrain.

The U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain), is the only operating U.S. naval base in the Central Region and is the home port of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. NSA Bahrain provides support through logistical, supply, and protection as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs to both United States Armed Forces and coalition assets. The base is also the primary base in the region for naval and marine activities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and formerly Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Bahrain is a strong security partner for the United States and is supportive of U.S. efforts to limit Iranian ambitions in the Gulf region. Bahrain is also a strong partner in countering threat financing, helping curtail Iran's efforts to circumvent financial sanctions. The U.S. relies on partnerships with countries in the Middle East, Central, and South Asia, and Bahrain's strategic value overrides concerns about human rights and political and religious freedom in the country.

Bahrain's proximity to Iran and its location in the Persian Gulf make it a critical ally for the United States in the region. The U.S. military presence in Bahrain helps to ensure the free flow of trade and oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital shipping lane for the global economy. Bahrain's cooperation with the U.S. also contributes to regional stability and counterterrorism efforts.

The US has had a military presence in Bahrain since World War II

The US Navy's presence in Bahrain was established during World War II when the British Royal Navy invited the US Navy to deploy a small detachment to the original territory of the British Royal Navy base, HMS Jufair. HMS Jufair was bombed by the Italian Air Force during World War II as part of an effort by the Axis Forces to cut off one of three Allied Forces sources of oil in the Persian Gulf. Following the US entry into World War II in December 1941, the US Navy established a presence at the site.

Post-WWII, the posting was recognised as the US Middle East Force in 1948, a small shore facility that provided logistical and communications support to Marine Expeditionary vessels. Bahrain has hosted a US naval command headquarters for the Gulf region since 1948. In 1971, Bahrain gained independence from the British Empire, and the permanent Royal Navy presence in Bahrain officially ended. The USN immediately took over the entire site, and in 1979, the location was named Administrative Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain.

NSA Bahrain provides support through logistics, supply, and protection, as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs for both the US Armed Forces and coalition assets. It is the primary base in the region for naval and marine activities in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and, formerly, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bahrain is officially designated a ""major non-NATO ally", a distinction that enhances its access to US weapons and training.

Bahrain is a key US ally in the Persian Gulf region

The US naval base in Bahrain is the primary base in the region for naval and marine activities and provides support through logistics, supply, and protection, as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs for US Armed Forces and coalition assets. The base is essential for US operations in the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East region.

In addition to the military cooperation, Bahrain is also a significant non-NATO ally of the US, which provides enhanced access to US weapons and training. This designation highlights the importance the US places on its relationship with Bahrain. Bahrain's support for US efforts to limit Iranian influence in the region is another key factor in the strong bilateral relationship.

The presence of US troops and the close relationship between the two countries have been a source of controversy in Bahrain, with opposition groups calling for the withdrawal of US forces. They argue that the US military presence leads to interference in Bahrain's domestic politics and provides support for the ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty, which has been accused of suppressing dissent and discriminating against the Shia majority. Despite this opposition, the US has maintained its close relationship with Bahrain due to its strategic importance in the region.

The US has a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Bahrain

The United States and Bahrain have a long history of security cooperation, with the US recognizing Bahrain as a Major Non-NATO Ally since 2002 and a Major Security Partner since 2021. The two countries have a General Security of Military Information Agreement from 1988 and an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement from 2004.

In September 2023, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) to promote cooperation across a range of areas, including defense, security, science, technology, and trade. This agreement is a new framework that aims to deter conflict in the region, enhance regional stability, de-escalate tensions, and bolster trade and economic cooperation.

Under C-SIPA, the US and Bahrain will work to enhance deterrence through expanded defense and security cooperation, interoperability, and mutual intelligence capacity-building. This includes integrating the region's air and missile defense systems and increasing maritime domain awareness. The agreement also promotes cooperation on trade and investment, building on the existing US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, which has tripled bilateral trade since 2006.

The US military's presence in Bahrain dates back to World War II, and the country hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and the headquarters of the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Bahrain is the only country in the US Central Command region to host military spouses and families. The US Navy base in Bahrain, known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain) or NSA Bahrain, provides logistical, supply, and protection support to both the US Armed Forces and coalition assets.

The US-Bahrain partnership has advanced US interests by keeping vital commercial shipping lanes safe, deterring threats, and enabling broader coalitions to operate. Bahrain's strategic location makes it a central node of the international maritime presence, securing some of the world's most important choke points.

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