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Bahrain’s King: Any Threat to Freedom of Navigation Is Disruption to World Trade

Bahrain’s King Hamad Al Khalifa during the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad Al Khalifa during the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils (BNA)
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Bahrain’s King: Any Threat to Freedom of Navigation Is Disruption to World Trade

Bahrain’s King Hamad Al Khalifa during the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad Al Khalifa during the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils (BNA)

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa warned on Sunday that any threat to freedom of navigation is considered a disruption to world trade and oil prices and a challenge to the global order.

King Hamad was speaking at the second session of the fifth Legislative Term of the Shura and Representatives councils.

“One-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply is launched from the waters of the Arabian Gulf, and any threat to the freedom of navigation is therefore considered a disruption to world trade, a disturbance to oil prices, and a challenge to the global order,” he said.

The monarch urged the international community to come together to take firm steps to deter aggressors and force them to respect international maritime safety laws and treaties, in order to maintain international peace and security.

He asked the government and authorities to uphold the rule of law and establish its sovereignty, by continuing to advance the justice sector, its institutions, services, and procedures.

Bahrain continues to pay close attention to the oil and gas sector in light of the major discoveries recently announced, King Hamad stated, adding that authorities will accelerate the pace of development of such projects.

A series of major development projects will also be launched, including the largest expansion of the Bapco refinery, the expansion of Banagas, the opening of the liquefied gas terminal Alba’s Line 6 project, and the operation of the new pipeline with Saudi Arabia.

“In light of our serious endeavors towards a modern, knowledge-based economy, we direct the government to undertake the development of a comprehensive national plan to ensure that we are fully prepared to meet the needs of the digital economy,” urged the King.

He explained that this could be achieved through the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies in the production and service sectors and implementation of necessary systems and technical frameworks. It addition, it can be attained through encouraging quality investments, in order to guarantee the maximum benefit to Bahrain’s national economy, he concluded.

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Ankara: Assad Does Not Want Peace in Syria

Fidan addresses the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Fidan addresses the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
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Ankara: Assad Does Not Want Peace in Syria

Fidan addresses the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament (Turkish Foreign Ministry)
Fidan addresses the Planning and Budget Committee of the Turkish Parliament (Turkish Foreign Ministry)

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is unwilling to pursue peace in Syria and warned that Israel’s efforts to spread war across the Middle East are undermining the environment fostered by the Astana Process.

Fidan emphasized the importance of Russian and Iranian efforts within the framework of the Astana Process to maintain calm on the ground, pointing to ongoing consultations with the US regarding the Syrian crisis.

Speaking during a parliamentary session discussing the 2025 budget of the Foreign Ministry, Fidan reiterated Türkiye’s expectation that the dialogue proposed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be approached strategically by the Syrian government, with priority given to the interests of the Syrian people.

Regarding Erdogan’s invitation to Assad for a meeting to discuss the normalization of ties between Ankara and Damascus, Fidan remarked that the matter depends on political will, stressing that the Turkish president has demonstrated his readiness at the highest level.

Last week, Erdogan reiterated the possibility of a meeting with Assad, but Russia, which mediates the normalization talks between Ankara and Damascus, ruled out such a meeting or high-level engagements in the near future.

Russian Presidential Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev attributed the impasse to Türkiye’s refusal to meet Damascus’ demand for a withdrawal from northern Syria, accusing Ankara of acting as an “occupying state”.

Although Türkiye has not officially responded to Lavrentiev’s comments, which reflect a shift in Russia’s stance, Fidan stated in a televised interview last week that Russia remains “somewhat neutral” regarding the normalization process. He also urged the Syrian government to create conditions for the return of 10 million Syrian refugees.

Türkiye maintains that its military presence in northern Syria prevents the country’s division, blocks the establishment of a “terror corridor” along its southern border, and deters new waves of refugees from entering its territory.

Fidan outlined his country’s key objectives in Syria, which include eradicating terrorist groups (such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the Syrian Democratic Forces), preserving Syria’s territorial unity, advancing the political process, and ensuring the safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees.

Meanwhile, Turkish artillery targeted villages and positions controlled by the Manbij Military Council, affiliated with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose main component is the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

On Friday, fierce clashes erupted between the Syrian National Army factions and the SDF in western Tel Abyad, northern Raqqa. Simultaneously, Turkish artillery strikes reportedly killed two SDF members and injured others, with reports of captives and missing personnel.

In retaliation, the SDF shelled Turkish bases in the Ain Issa countryside. Turkish forces responded by deploying military reinforcements amid heightened alert at their bases in Raqqa’s countryside, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).