US reiterates ‘commitment’ to promote stability in the region

Bahrain has been a cornerstone of US foreign policy in the region, said Congressman Joe Wilson, Member of the 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 organisation.

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.”

John C Rood, US Undersecretary for Defence Policy, 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 US Destroyer for our first governmental meeting with the Saudis and throughout the 1950s, we concluded our earliest mutual defence systems agreement with Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”