The US has signed an agreement with Bahrain to enhance defence and economic ties. The move is reported to be a show of support for the Gulf monarchy that faced an arms embargo a decade ago. It is to be noted that Bahrain has tense relations with nearby Iran. It is already home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. But as per reports, the agreement will solidify the relationship both symbolically and by boosting cooperation, including through a commitment to share intelligence. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the deal in a ceremony with Bahrain's Crown Prince, Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa.
#US #Bahrain #USBahrain #USBahrainDeal #AntonyBlinken #SalmanbinHamadalKhalifa
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#US #Bahrain #USBahrain #USBahrainDeal #AntonyBlinken #SalmanbinHamadalKhalifa
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00:00 The US has signed an agreement with Bahrain to enhance defense and economic ties.
00:08 The move is reported to be a show of support for the Gulf monarchy that faced an arms embargo
00:13 a decade ago.
00:14 It is to be noted that Bahrain has tense relations with nearby Iran.
00:18 It is already home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet but as per reports, the agreement will solidify
00:23 the relationship both symbolically and by boosting cooperation including through a commitment
00:29 to shared intelligence.
00:30 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the deal in a ceremony with Bahrain's Crown
00:35 Prince, Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
00:38 Before signing the agreement, Blinken said that it would allow America to even better
00:42 determine or respond to threats as they arise.
00:46 Blinken said, "The heart of the agreement is a shared goal, working together to build
00:51 a region that is more secure, more prosperous and that's more connected to the world."
00:56 The deal is named the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement.
01:01 As per reports, it will also promote scientific exchanges, investment opportunities and work
01:06 on renewable energy.
01:08 In what Blinken billed as a first-of-a-kind measure, the agreement will commit the two
01:12 countries to work together on what they called "trusted technologies".
01:16 It was an allusion to avoiding providers often from China, seen by the US as potentially
01:21 unsafe.
01:22 The Crown Prince Khalifa said that the agreement would focus not only on security and defence,
01:26 which is essential, but also on the economy, on people and on technology, which will be
01:31 the foundation for a new global architecture.
01:33 Bahrain came under criticism in 2011 when, backed by fellow Sunni Kingdom Saudi Arabia,
01:38 it crushed an uprising led by the Shiite community that demanded a constitutional monarchy and
01:44 an elected prime minister.
01:46 The US President Barack Obama imposed an arms embargo for four years.
01:50 Bahrain returned to the US's good graces under former President Donald Trump, who hailed
01:55 Bahrain's recognition of Israel.
01:57 Blinken said that the US would raise with the Kingdom the issue of human rights, with
02:01 the goal of ensuring that fundamental freedoms are protected, which contributes to Bahrain's
02:05 progress.
02:06 The government and activists on Tuesday reported an end to a prison hunger strike that involved
02:12 at least 800 inmates and lasted 36 days, following an offer to improve conditions.
02:18 [Music]