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The United States and Bahrain signed a civilian nuclear energy agreement on Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump met with the crown prince of the Gulf nation.
During a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the agreement demonstrates the United States’ readiness to collaborate with any nation wishing to pursue a civil nuclear energy initiative “that is not aimed at weaponisation or posing a threat to their neighbors’ security.”
His comments were directed at Iran, which both the United States and Israel claim is attempting to develop nuclear arms. On June 22, the United States attacked Iranian nuclear sites as part of its 12-day conflict with its chief adversary, Israel.
Bahrain is a steadfast ally of the United States and is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Later on Wednesday, Trump met with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa in the Oval Office to discuss Middle Eastern security matters and economic partnership.
“We’ve had a tremendous relationship, I have personally, with Bahrain over the years, and it has been a fantastic ally,” Trump told reporters as he sat with the Bahraini delegation before their talks.
Bahrain also signed the Abraham Accords during Trump’s first term in office, which facilitated the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, and Israel.
