Bahrain: Following the meeting between key officials of the European Union and the Kingdom of Bahrain, the launch of negotiations for a Bahrain-EU Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) has been announced. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the third High Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Brussels.
According to European Union, the partnership recognizes Bahrain's significant role as the current president of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its upcoming position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2026-2027. Both parties are committed to enhancing cooperation to promote regional peace, prosperity, and security, with a focus on maintaining maritime security and freedom of navigation.
The announcement highlights the strong relationship between the EU and Bahrain and presents opportunities to widen cooperation in mutually beneficial areas. During the negotiation process, both sides aim to explore new methods for enhanced collaboration and address emerging challenges shared by both parties.
Both the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs have reiterated their commitment to strengthening political and security dialogue. The European Commissioner emphasized the potential economic benefits that the Strategic Partnership Agreement could bring.