US reiterates commitment to promoting stability, deterring aggression in region

 Bahrain has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy in the region, said Congressman Joe Wilson,
Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism, Committee on Foreign Affairs, US House of Representatives.

Bahrain is a model of unity where communities of different faiths live together in harmony, Wilson stressed at the Fifth Plenary Session of the IISS 15th Manama Dialogue held under the title: US Policy and Alliance Relations in the Middle East.

"Bahrain is a valuable US ally which was very significant in our victory in the Cold War with the liberation of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

"In many ways, Bahrain represents the hope for the Middle East while challenges persist. Here Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities of faith live together and flourish. It is a model of unity."

Wilson added: "I appreciate that President Donald Trump has made the vision that Bahrain represents a cornerstone of US foreign policy for the region.”

“The history of the US with Bahrain stretches back to before 1903 with the establishment of the American Mission Hospital in Manama,” he said.

“President Trump has proven his dedication to the region by his actions and the journey is far from complete.
"Iran has been sponsoring terrorism here for decades and it’s perhaps the greatest security threat to the Gulf region. I was grateful that this administration took the necessary steps to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for what it is, a foreign terrorist organization. That undoubtedly came as good news to our allies in the Gulf.

"So did the Trump administration designation of the Ashtar Brigades and Iranian proxy militia right here in Bahrain that had launched dozens of murderous attacks against the Bahraini Security Forces. This pressure on Iran has yielded concrete dividends on the ground here in the Middle East. US sanctions disrupted and slowed Iran to provide oil to Syria.”

Wood praised the vision and leadership of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa who in 2004 first welcomed IISS to Manama.

He said that during the 1983 visit of the late Amir of Bahrain HH Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to Ronald Reagan, the two leaders discussed the Gulf Cooperation Council to share the significance of partnership in the regional cooperation and promote stability in dealing with shared threats in this region.

"These partnerships are nothing new. In World War II Bahrain opened its ports to American sailors and airmen going to fight in the war. In 1945 American president Franklin Roosevelt hosted the late Saudi King Abdulaziz on the U.S Destroyer for our first governmental meeting with the Saudis and throughout the 1950s, we concluded our earliest mutual defense systems agreement with Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia."

"Since then, we have cultivated over 250 defense agreements with our friends here in this region, where the United States maintains eight significant bases.

“Bahrain graciously welcomed the U.S Navy Central Command headquarters in 1995 and we have enjoyed a strong partnership ever since. We recognize building partnership capacity is a journey not a specific destination.”

He said there are three key challenges facing the United States partners in the Middle East.

"The first is the fight to defeat Daesh or ISIS. The United States has rallied together 81 nations and international organizations for the defeat ISIS. The Coalition has fought successfully with close partnership with our Iraqi security force partners and our partners in Syria, the Syrian democratic forces. The Coalition freed ISIS held territory and liberated 7.7 million people from the brutal rule of ISIS.
The United States and its partners must acknowledge different kinds of instability that are coming from Iran and it is the second challenge I want to focus on,” said Wood.

"In the last six months alone, Iran has started to interrupt the freeform of navigation in the global economy and destabilize its neighbors through direct attacks and through its proxies in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The United States remains focused on economic and diplomatic maximum pressure campaign that continues to achieve its objectives since 2018.

"President Donald Trump has made it clear United States stands ready to meet the Iranians at the negotiations table.

"Unfortunately, with its attacks on the oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s attacks on Aramco Oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Iran has made it clear it intends to pursue a pattern of aggressive behavior that is destabilizing.

“The attacks are not merely a regional or US problem. They are a threat to global security and economy. This necessitates an international response and the United States has met this call by internationalizing the response – the International Maritime Security Construct in support of regional integrated area in missile defense effort led by Saudi Arabia, he said.

"Our regional headquarters in Manama of the Internal Maritime Security Construct has determined the activity in help promote maritime security by ensuring freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce through the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al Mandeb and the Gulf of Oman.

"As our Coalition including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Bahrain, UK, Albania and Australia, diversifies, it becomes easier to maintain stability. As an additional effort to bring stability to the skies and counter Iran's demonstrable threat of ballistic missiles, US Secretary Defense Mark Esper announced the deployment of US forces.

"Since May 2019, the deployment of approximately 14,000 additional US forces is aimed at deterring Iranian aggression and providing the US with formidable array of capabilities to defend against and if necessary, to forcefully response to any Iranian aggression," he said.

"Those 14,000 additional forces were not present here a few months ago and in fact since we have launched our new national defense strategy which spoke of importance of Pacific, the Indo Pacific region the United States has continued to grow its military presence in this region.

"So, I think the facts are important here to show where we are operating, where we are devoting additional resources, and where we are collaborating successfully with others around the world to address our shared interest in promoting stability and deterring aggression in this area.

“Our vision for Middle East is that one it is stable, prosperous and not dominated by any malign actor, power or group. One that is rooted in the international rules-based order,” he said.

Taking part in the 5th Plenary session was also Senator Chris Murphy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, US Senate.