His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister, met US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
The meeting took place as part of HRH Prince Salman’s official visit to the US.
He reaffirmed the strength and depth of the strategic Bahrain-US partnership, particularly within the military and defence sectors, which spans more than 130 years.
HRH Prince Salman noted that the enduring military and defence co-operation continues to advance through mutual trust, collaboration and strategic partnerships such as the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), which recently expanded to include the United Kingdom, following an invitation by Bahrain and the United States.
He described C-SIPA as a major step toward encouraging broader regional security integration, strengthening collective deterrence against external threats, and expanding co-operation in commerce, science and technology with like-minded states in support of peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Prime Minister emphasised the shared commitment to furthering military and defence co-operation to achieve common goals that benefit all.
He also underlined Bahrain’s support for all regional and international efforts aimed at maintaining peace and stability. He also commended the pivotal role of the United States, alongside its allies, in upholding regional and global security.
HRH Prince Salman expressed his pride in the ongoing progress of the Bahraini-US relations, underscoring the importance of building on the foundation of existing agreements to elevate co-operation to greater heights.
HRH Prince Salman noted that the kingdom takes pride in its strong and enduring partnership with the United States. The kingdom’s historic co-operation with the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet – spanning more than eight decades – stands as a testament to this partnership and reflects a steadfast commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at safeguarding maritime security and protecting global shipping lanes.
He further noted that this co-operation, carried out alongside allied armed forces, plays a vital role in advancing regional and global stability, while supporting broader efforts to achieve sustainable development at both the regional and international levels.
Avenues to strengthen military and defence co-operation were reviewed, along with discussions on issues of mutual interest and the latest regional and international developments.
The US Secretary of Defence highlighted the strong strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States. He commended Bahrain’s vital role in hosting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and its active participation in, and hosting of, the Combined Maritime Forces.
He also expressed his appreciation for Bahrain’s courageous stances, commitment and continuous support for peace.
He affirmed the United States commitment to strengthen defence co-operation and develop joint defence capabilities with the kingdom, based on decades of mutual trust and collaboration.
Prime Minister’s Court Minister Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and several senior officials also attended the meeting.
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