Relationship dossier
Bahrain
United States
Relationship assessment
A close security partnership, supported by U.S. naval facilities in Bahrain and broad bilateral cooperation.
Bahrain toward United States
+75Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has supported U.S.-led regional security efforts. Bahrain also joined the Abraham Accords in 2020, an initiative supported by the United States.
United States toward Bahrain
+75The United States has provided security cooperation to Bahrain, designated it a major non-NATO ally, and concluded a free trade agreement with it. The United States also supported Bahrain’s participation in the Abraham Accords.
Overall relationship
+75The relationship is anchored in a sustained security partnership, including the U.S. Fifth Fleet’s presence in Bahrain and U.S. security cooperation. A free trade agreement and Bahrain’s participation in the Abraham Accords broaden the partnership. U.S. concerns over human rights have at times created friction but have not displaced the central security relationship.
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
Overview
Bahrain and the United States maintain a close, durable security partnership. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and has supported U.S.-led regional security efforts. The United States provides security cooperation and designated Bahrain a major non-NATO ally. Bilateral ties also include a free trade agreement and U.S. support for Bahrain’s participation in the Abraham Accords. Human-rights concerns have periodically complicated the partnership.
Areas of tension
- U.S. criticism of human-rights conditions and political repression in Bahrain has periodically strained relations.
Key developments
The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet established its headquarters in Bahrain.
The United States designated Bahrain a major non-NATO ally.
The United States and Bahrain signed a free trade agreement.
Bahrain joined the Abraham Accords in a ceremony supported by the United States.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and terms of current U.S. security cooperation with Bahrain are unclear.
- The practical scope of Bahrain’s support for U.S.-led regional operations can vary over time.