Bahrain–United States relations

Bahrain – United States relations

Bahrain	United States
Diplomatic Mission
Bahraini Embassy, Washington, D.C.	United States Embassy, Manama

Bahrain–United States relations are bilateral relations between Bahrain and the United States. Bahrain and the United States are long-time close allies.

History

Bahrain has provided a base for U.S. naval activity in the Persian Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent in 1971, the US-Bahrain relationship was formalized with the establishment of diplomatic relations, initiated by the diplomatic recognition of Bahrain as a sovereign state by the US. The U.S. embassy at Manama was opened September 21, 1971, and the country's first resident ambassador, Joseph W. Twinam, was sent in 1974. The Bahraini embassy in Washington, DC, opened in 1977. In October 1991, Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003. King Hamad made an official visit to Washington in November 2004 to meet with President Bush and cabinet-level officials.

Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. The U.S. designated Bahrain a Major non-NATO ally in October 2001.

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church (Bahrain), has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Tom Malinowski, on a visit to Bahrain in July 2014 was ordered to leave the country after meeting with members of the Al-Wefaq opposition party. Both countries issued statements taking exception at each other's actions but reaffirming the strength of their relationship.

Diplomatic missions

The U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain is Thomas C. Krajeski, appointed in June 2011.

In June 2008, Bahrain appointed Houda Nounou as an Ambassador to the United States.

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  President George W. Bush welcomes King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to the Oval Office on 29 November 2004

External links

• History of Bahrain - U.S. relations
• Embassy of Bahrain - Washington, DC
• Embassy of U.S.A. - Manama

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[1]