Relationship dossier
Bahrain
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Bahrain supports Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara; information about Sahrawi government engagement with Bahrain is limited.
Bahrain toward Western Sahara
-35Bahrain has backed Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara and opened a consulate in Laayoune, aligning its policy with Moroccan administration rather than Sahrawi independence.
Western Sahara toward Bahrain
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow 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 has supported Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara and opened a consulate in Laayoune, a position opposed to the territory’s independence claim. Information about direct cooperation by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with Bahrain is insufficient to assess that aspect of the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Bahrain’s support for Moroccan sovereignty conflicts with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s claim to independence.
Key developments
Bahrain announced plans to open a consulate in Laayoune, reinforcing its support for Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Bahrain’s government engagement with Sahrawi representatives is unclear.
- The practical effects of Bahrain’s support for Morocco’s position on direct relations with Sahrawi institutions are unclear.