Bahrain’s longstanding relations with the United States were highlighted as His Majesty King Hamad hosted a reception in Washington, DC, following the Ramadan iftar yesterday.
The reception was part of his visit to the US to participate in the first meeting of the Board of Peace at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.
The reception was attended by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and US President’s adviser Jared Kushner. Foreign ministers of the GCC states, senior US administration officials, and representatives of countries participating in the Board of Peace meeting were also present.
Discussions addressed the agenda of the first Board of Peace meeting, which aimed to advance implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and support reconstruction efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, His Majesty extended his best wishes on Ramadan.
“Bahrain and the United States share more than 130 years of friendship, dating back to the establishment of the American Mission Hospital – which continues to be a valued institution in our community. Over 80 years ago, that friendship developed further into a strategic partnership with the establishment of the United States’ oldest continuous military presence in the Middle East – today the proud home of the United States Fifth Fleet, the King said.
“Our partnership has steadily deepened. Bahrain became the first major non-Nato ally of the US in the Gulf and the first in the region to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US. We were also among the first signatories of the Abraham Accords and further elevated our ties through the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA). We are honoured as well to be the first signatory of the Board of Peace charter established by President Donald Trump, and I am pleased that we are all gathered here in Washington for its first meeting.
“We meet at a pivotal moment for the Middle East – one that calls for courage and vision. We stand closer to peace than many thought possible, leadership and boldness have made this progress achievable.
“Bahrain has always placed peace, coexistence, and tolerance at the heart of its identity. As our partnership with the US enters a new chapter, the opportunities before us are immense. Bahrain is resilient and forward-looking – we are not only participating in the digital economy, we are helping to shape it, and we invite you to join us on our journey.
“The United States has always been a force for stability and prosperity in our region and around the world. Our partnership is built not merely on shared interests, but on enduring trust, common purpose, and a belief in progress. Together, we have the ability to shape a future defined by security, opportunity and sustainable growth.”
Mr Kushner highlighted His Majesty’s role in supporting efforts to promote peace and reinforce security and stability at both regional and international levels. He also noted the depth of Bahraini-American relations and their continued development across various areas of co-operation in support of shared interests.
Read more:
Path to Peace
ENT conference to showcase latest advances and research
Ramadan bonanza for diehard F1 fans
&uuid=(email))