The Biden administration signed a security agreement with the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain on Wednesday, deepening its commitment to defend the authoritarian country from attacks.
The format of the agreement could serve as a template for other Gulf Arab governments that have demanded stronger security guarantees from the United States, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain — an island nation that is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — has a particularly tense relationship with Iran, located across the Persian Gulf.
Under the new agreement, if the kingdom were attacked, the United States would consult with the Bahraini government and determine the best way to “confront the ongoing aggression,” said a senior Biden administration official, who briefed journalists on the condition of anonymity.
One of the provisions in the agreement allows Bahrain and the United States to invite other countries to join the pact, the official said.
Persons:
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Organizations:
Biden, United Arab, Navy’s, Bahraini
Locations:
Bahrain, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Persian, United