Ties renewed

Manama : The historic relations between Bahrain and the United States came to the fore during the US Secretary of State, John Kerry’s meeting with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa here yesterday. On Kerry’s visit, HM the King remarked that it comes at a crucial time for the region and the world. 

“The historic relationship between two nations was born not from agreements between governments, but from the friendship between people. It began when, in 1893, a group of courageous Americans travelled to a distant land and set up a hospital that continues to serve our people to this day. In the following decades, this relationship flourished,” HM King Hamad explained. “Today it encompasses security, economic, and cultural ties that continue to develop year after year.”

The meeting, held at Gudaibiya Palace, was also attended Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Kerry is on a visit to the Kingdom to take part in the Joint Ministerial Meeting of GCC Foreign Ministers.

“In the late 1940s, the US Middle East Force in Bahrain, a small naval facility providing communication and logistical support to marine forces in the region was established. This was the cornerstone upon which the US security cooperation with Bahrain and the wider region was built. Over the years, our security relationship evolved into what it is today the US Fifth Fleet, based in Manama, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the vital waters of the Arabian Gulf,” HM King remarked.

“As a major non-NATO ally, we have engaged in numerous joint military exercises. We stood together in combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and worked toward world peace. Perhaps the most important joint operation we took part was operation desert shield and desert storm to liberate Kuwait, in which the contribution from Bahrain was second only to that of Saudi Arabia,” King Hamad recalled. 

“Trade between Bahrain and the United States has grown considerably since the implementation of the bilateral free trade agreement in 2006. We look forward to enhancing our trade ties in the coming years,” HM King Hamad said.

HM the King reiterated that relationship with the US would remain as a core interest of Bahrain. “Bahrain has been and continues to be America’s best friend in the region.” 

Meanwhile, Kerry expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for its contributions to the war in Afghanistan and the International Coalition to fight Daesh, adding that a lot could be done in the future regarding those issues. 

“Let me confirm that the US and Bahrain have a strong and solid commitment to fighting against terrorism together,” he commented.