Southern West Virginia News

Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced a resolution on May 28, 2024, aimed at bolstering the United States' diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain. The resolution underscores the importance of strengthening relations between the two nations in areas such as free trade, military security, and counterterrorism.

"It is crucial that we continue to strengthen our relationship with our ally, Bahrain. We have worked together on many key issues including free trade, military security, and counterterrorism to push back against external threats. I introduced this resolution to push for the expansion of our economic and military ties with Bahrain, which will benefit both of our nations financially, bolster U.S. national security, and help maintain peace and stability in the Middle East," said Congresswoman Miller.

The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Bahrain since 1971. In 2002, Bahrain was designated by the United States as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally. More recently, in 2023, both countries signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA), aimed at enhancing cooperation in defense, security, technology, trade, and investment.

Maintaining strong ties with Bahrain is viewed as critical for ensuring peace in the Middle East. The United States and Bahrain also signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2004. By 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries had grown to more than $4 billion.