The US and Bahrain on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement in the field of peaceful nuclear energy shortly before a meeting in the White House between US President Donald Trump and Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
“This is an important signing,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the signing ceremony with his Bahraini counterpart, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
He added: “It serves as the first step towards a deeper civil nuclear cooperation – an example that the United States is prepared to be a partner with any nation on Earth that wants to pursue a civil nuclear program that clearly is not geared towards weaponization or threatening the security of their neighbors.”
Rubio did not mention by name Iran, which Israel and Washington accuse of seeking nuclear weapons.
“And this is a – no one better to do it with than such a strong partner that we’ve been working with for so long. This only strengthens our relationship,” Rubio said.
Later at a meeting with Trump, Bahrain's Crown Prince announced plans to invest more than $17 billion in the United States.
“We're very happy to be announcing $17 billion worth of deals that are coming to the United States,” said Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He then joked with journalists at the White House, saying, “And this is real. These aren't fake deals.”
Asked whether Iran should return to the negotiating table with the US over its nuclear program, the Crown Prince said: “The ball is in their court. They are the ones who stand to benefit from a negotiation.”
