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Relationship dossier

Bahrain Kuwait

Relationship assessment

Cooperative Gulf partners with episodes of security solidarity

Bahrain toward Kuwait

+25

Bahrain supported Kuwait’s sovereignty during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, reflecting concrete diplomatic solidarity with Kuwait.

Kuwait toward Bahrain

+30

Kuwait sent naval forces to Bahrain in 2011 amid regional unrest, providing concrete security support to the Bahraini government.

Overall relationship

+30

The relationship has a cooperative security dimension, reflected in Bahrain’s support for Kuwait’s sovereignty during the 1990 invasion and Kuwait’s 2011 naval deployment to Bahrain. Gulf regional cooperation forms a broader setting for these ties, while the scope and continuity of direct bilateral arrangements remain unclear.

How to read these scores

Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.

−100
Extreme sustained hostility
−50
Substantially adversarial
0
Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
+50
Substantially cooperative
+100
Exceptionally close sustained partnership

“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.

Relationship context

Knowledge coverageLimited

Overview

Bahrain and Kuwait have maintained cooperative ties within the Gulf Cooperation Council, including security cooperation. Kuwait sent naval forces to Bahrain in 2011 amid regional unrest, and Bahrain supported Kuwait’s sovereignty during the 1990 Iraqi invasion. These episodes indicate practical security solidarity, though the scope and continuity of other bilateral cooperation are unclear.

Key developments

Major uncertainties

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