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Bahrain Says Partnership with US Strengthens Regional, Global Security

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his meeting with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken (BNA)
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his meeting with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken (BNA)
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Bahrain Says Partnership with US Strengthens Regional, Global Security

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his meeting with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken (BNA)
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his meeting with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken (BNA)

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa affirmed that the Kingdom and the US would continue to boost their cooperation, reiterating the importance of pushing bilateral ties to advanced levels.

The Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said that during his official visit to the US, Crown Prince Salman received the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

During the meeting, Prince Salman lauded the relations between Bahrain and the United States, saying they brought about an ongoing strategic partnership that has strengthened regional and global security, peace, stability, and development.

The Crown Prince underscored the importance of peaceful and diplomatic ways to resolve various global issues. He discussed with Blinken bilateral relations and ways to develop cooperation and increase coordination between the two countries.

Prince Salman noted the importance of the Strategic Dialogue held between Bahrain and the United States, which aims to enhance regional security, prosperity, and economic and trade development, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.

At the meeting, the officials reviewed existing longstanding relations and explored further cooperation and coordination. They also discussed regional and international issues and developments of common interest.

For his part, the US Secretary stressed the importance of pushing the Bahraini-US relations towards broader horizons at various levels, praising Manama’s support and partnership on multiple issues as an essential strategic non-NATO ally, especially those related to security and stability.

On Monday, the Secretary of State and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, launched the second US-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price announced in a statement on Wednesday that Blinken met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince in Washington, and they welcomed the launch of the second US-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue.

Price said the two officials discussed a range of bilateral and regional policy matters, including joint peace and security initiatives, economic cooperation, and steps to advance human rights.

They also addressed Russia’s “unjustified” attack against Ukraine.

Secretary Blinken commended Bahrain for voting in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Secretary also thanked the Crown Prince for Bahrain’s contribution in facilitating the safe transit of evacuees from Afghanistan and commended Bahrain for advancing its ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

Later, the Crown Prince met with the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, at the Pentagon. They discussed the military and defense partnership which spans 75 years.

They also addressed issues of common interest and the importance of enhancing defense cooperation and coordination to support international efforts to strengthen security, stability, and development.

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Gulf

Gulf Remembers Pope as a Symbol of Tolerance, Dialogue

The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
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Gulf Remembers Pope as a Symbol of Tolerance, Dialogue

The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)
The grand mass led by Pope Francis at the Bahrain National Stadium was attended by 28,000 people from 111 nationalities (BNA)

Gulf nations remember Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, who passed away at the age of 88, as a global symbol of tolerance and dialogue between civilizations.

Due to his spiritual stature and worldwide influence, Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, met with Pope Francis twice.

Their first meeting took place on May 28, 2023, at the pope's residence in Santa Marta, in a landmark encounter reflecting the Muslim World League's role in promoting effective dialogue, transparent understanding, and positive cooperation among followers of different religions and cultures.

The meeting included discussions on shared values and building bridges between civilizations, as well as addressing the challenges of religious and ideological extremism in all its forms, including hate, racism, marginalization, and exclusion.

The second meeting between Al-Issa and the Pope took place on December 23, 2024, with the same objective in mind.

The most significant event in the Gulf's relationship with the late Pope Francis was his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

On February 3, 2019, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula, following an invitation from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to participate in an interfaith dialogue conference.

During his visit to the UAE, the Pope led a mass at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on February 5, attended by approximately 120,000 people.

For the UAE, which is home to more than one million Christians, the majority of whom are Catholics, the visit underscored the nation's commitment to tolerance and cultural diversity. Christians in the UAE make up about one-ninth of the population, and they enjoy a life of dignity, respect, and equality in a country that has become a model of inclusivity.

Abu Dhabi saw the establishment of the first church in the UAE in 1965, a Catholic church named “St. Joseph's.” The first mass in Abu Dhabi was held in 1958 at the Al Hosn Palace. In the neighboring Emirate of Dubai, the first church, “St. Mary’s,” was built in 1967.

Today, the UAE is home to 45 churches.

Pope's Visit to Bahrain

From November 3 to 6, 2022, the late Pope Francis visited Bahrain, where he met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and senior officials.

The Pope’s visit was part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the Islamic world, following his historic trip to the UAE in 2019.

During his time in Bahrain, Pope Francis addressed a dialogue forum on coexistence, organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, based in the UAE.

He also met with Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb of Al-Azhar, with whom he had signed a joint document on interfaith coexistence during his visit to the UAE.

The Pope led a grand mass at the Bahrain National Stadium, attended by Christian church leaders from Bahrain and the region, as well as more than 28,000 people representing 111 nationalities.

In his address, the Pope emphasized the principles of peace and love for all.

Bahrain is home to 18 churches representing various Christian denominations.

The country witnessed the construction of its first Christian church in 1906, the National Evangelical Church, which is the oldest church in Bahrain and the Gulf. In 1939, the first Catholic church in Bahrain and the Gulf was built, the Sacred Heart Church.

In 2021, the largest Catholic church in the region, Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, was inaugurated. Located in Al A'ali, the cathedral covers 9,000 square meters and can accommodate more than 2,300 people, with its outdoor plaza holding over 6,000 visitors and worshippers.

The final stop of the Pope’s four-day visit to Bahrain was at the Sacred Heart Church, built in 1939 on land donated by the ruler at the time.

Christians in Kuwait

Kuwait is the second Gulf state, after Bahrain, with a Christian community comprising 262 individuals. The majority of Christians in both Kuwait and Bahrain trace their origins to southeastern Türkiye, Iraq, and Palestine.

On January 8, 1999, Emmanuel Gharib was ordained as a priest and pastor of the National Evangelical Church, making him the first Gulf national to attain this position.

Pastor Emmanuel founded the “National Evangelical Church” diwaniya in Kuwait, a space for discussions on the latest social, political, and economic developments. The church was built on land purchased by the US mission in 1914 to construct a men’s hospital.

According to a 2014 US State Department report on religious freedoms, there are over 200 Kuwaiti Christians spread across eight families, in addition to around 450,000 expatriate Christians residing in the country.