National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, at the White House today to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the United States’ enduring commitment to Bahrain’s security and thanked the Crown Prince for Bahrain’s steadfast partnership – including hosting the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
Both sides welcomed the signing today of the “Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement” (C-SIPA), a landmark new framework for enhancing cooperation across a range of areas – from defense and intelligence to advanced technology and trade and investment. C-SIPA will serve as a cornerstone for enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United States and Bahrain, and is in line with President Biden’s vision for a more stable and prosperous Middle East region forged through security and economic integration between allies and partners. Mr. Sullivan and the Crown Prince-Prime Minster pledged to stay in regular contact in the coming weeks and months to oversee implementation of the agreement. They also welcomed the announcement at the G-20 of the India-Middle-East-Europe-Economic Corridor, a game-changing initiative under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure, which promises significant benefits for countries across the Middle East region. They also engaged in constructive dialogue on the importance of universal values, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.
Both delegations discussed opportunities to strengthen economic and commercial ties under C-SIPA, including a target of summer 2024 to launch direct flights between the United States and Bahrain. They also discussed exploring bilateral cooperation on the development of commercial advanced small modular reactors – a key element in the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of deploying innovative, zero-carbon technologies.
The Crown Prince and his team also participated in a bilateral technology dialogue with senior U.S. officials at the White House today to explore ways of deepening cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
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