Israel PM meets Bahrain crown prince in push to tighten ties
Israel’s prime minister met with Bahrain’s crown prince on Tuesday as new allies sought to nurture closer cooperation and present a united front to their shared nemesis Iran.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was making a one-day visit to Gulf island kingdom, first by an Israeli leader, less than two years after countries established formal diplomatic relations as part of US-brokered “Abraham Accords.”
Bennett was greeted by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, who also serves as kingdom’s prime minister, and a military colour guard at Manama’s Gudaibiya Palace.
He told crown prince that he came “with a spirit of goodwill, of cooperation, of standing together against mutual challenges.” Bennett also met with several government ministers and discussed need for greater economic cooperation.
“We must do more to get to know one another and build upon Abraham Accords, which have been such a historic agreement,” the crown prince said. In recent months, as tensions with Iran have soared, the two countries have intensified military cooperation. Early this month, they signed a defence pact, and last week, Bahrain announced that an Israeli naval officer would be stationed in Manama, which is also home to US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
The Israeli military confirmed it will have a naval representative attached to 5th fleet. Bennett met with fleet commander, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, during his stop in Manama. Bennett’s office said fleet “is a significant element in maintaining regional stability in face of various security threats.” It did not mention Iran specifically. But Israel has made no secret of its concerns about Iranian naval activities across region. Israel has stepped up its naval presence in Red Sea after a series of attacks on commercial ships with links to Israel, which it blamed on Iran.
Earlier this month Israeli ships took part in a massive naval exercise in Gulf, which included ships from Oman and Saudi Arabia, with whom Israel does not have formal diplomatic ties.
Israeli warships also participated in US-led naval drills with United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in Red Sea in November. Israel and Bahrain established formal diplomatic ties after years of clandestine security cooperation over their shared enmity of Bahrain’s neighbour, Iran.
