The meeting of the political cooperation working group, held within the framework of the Third Bahrain-US Strategic Dialogue, has concluded.
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Political Affairs Undersecretary, and Derek Chollet, the Counselor of the US Department of State, co-chaired the meeting.
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed affirmed the keenness of the kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and based on the policies of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to enhance its historical friendship and strengthen its strategic partnership with the USA, to serve common interests and contribute to establishing regional and global security and peace.
The Undersecretary lauded the outcomes of the Third Bahrain-US Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, in affirming the two countries' keenness to bolster political, economic, security and cultural cooperation, by activating their bilateral Free Trade Agreement, protecting regional security and freedom of maritime navigation, as well as cybersecurity, combating extremism and terrorism, and promoting respect for human rights, as part of their commitment to bilateral and regional security and joint economic prosperity.
He reviewed the prospects for cooperation with the Negev Forum member states, in coordination with the American side, in light of the two countries’ presidency of the healthcare and regional security groups, and their support for the Abraham Accords agreement, in a way that would promote security, stability and peaceful coexistence in the region and the world.
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the field of human rights, amid the US appreciation for the Kingdom’s achievements in protecting religious freedoms and respecting ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as in maintaining Tier-1 status in the US Department of State's 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Report for the sixth straight year.
Derek Chollet affirmed his country's keenness to enhance its political, economic and security cooperation and partnership with the Kingdom, praising Bahrain's diplomatic efforts and initiatives to establish security, peace and stability in the Middle East, and to promote dialogue among religions, civilisations and cultures. He wished Bahrain continued security, progress and prosperity.
Source: Bahrain News Agency