The United States and Bahrain have officially signed a comprehensive security and economic agreement, solidifying their commitment to each other, according to sources familiar with the matter.
During his recent visit to Washington, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is scheduled to sign the pact. His itinerary also includes important discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Last week, Brett McGurk, President Biden's primary Middle East consultant, traveled to Bahrain to engage in discussions with Crown Prince Salman and other officials.
The agreement includes crucial provisions wherein the United States will offer consultation and support to Bahrain in the face of immediate security threats. Sources emphasize that this treaty will be legally binding, encompassing security commitments as well as a framework for economic collaboration and trusted technological partnerships between the two nations.
It is important to note that the agreement does not include a commitment similar to NATO's Article 5, which means that an attack on Bahrain would not be automatically considered an attack on the United States.
Both the White House and the Bahraini Embassy have refrained from providing comments on the development at this time.
Insiders reveal that this strategic partnership between the United States and Bahrain has been under consideration for over a year. The Biden administration sees this agreement as a potential model for similar deals with other countries in the region.
During his recent visit to Manama, McGurk reportedly finalized the terms of the agreement. This partnership highlights the Biden administration's heightened efforts to strengthen its relationships with Gulf nations.
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