Prime Minister's Discussion with Bahrain's Prime Minister: Set for 19th June 2025
Downing Street Announces UK's Full Membership in C-SIPA, Strengthening Ties with Bahrain
Today, the Prime Minister warmly welcomed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, to 10 Downing Street. The leaders' discussion highlighted the robust UK-Bahrain partnership, with a particular focus on the UK's recent entry into the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA).
This pivotal agreement, comprising the UK, Bahrain, and the US, aims to bolster trilateral cooperation on regional security matters at a critical juncture. The joined forces expressed a shared perspective on the significance of this arrangement.
During their meeting, the Prime Minister also emphasized the signing of the Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership. This agreement further boosts the two-way investment partnership between our nations, unleashing fresh investment, stimulating growth, and generating jobs in the UK while reinforcing the government's Plan for Change.
The leaders recognized the importance of the new Defense Cooperation Accord between the two countries, reinforcing joint military training and fortifying the strong naval bonds shared by both nations. The strategic naval base in Bahrain, the UK's largest outside its own territories, underscores the enduring military ties between our nations.
Regarding the two nations' 200-year historical relationship, the leaders expressed eagerness for further cooperation, including potential trade negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Turning to regional affairs, the leaders called for de-escalation and emphasized the need for durable relationships across the Middle East to maintain stability.
The Prime Minister and Crown Prince look forward to their next conversation.
A Closer Look at C-SIPA
C-SIPA, forged in June 2025, is a multilateral framework that strives to establish long-term stability and prosperity in the Middle East by integrating security, defense, economic cooperation, and emerging technologies among member countries. The UK officially joined the existing US-Bahrain pact, signed in September 2024.
Key Features of the Agreement
- Covering a broad range of topics such as defense and security cooperation, joint military training, emerging technology collaboration, trade, and investment, C-SIPA aims to foster partnership among countries with shared interests.
Benefits
- C-SIPA's primary objective is to instill regional security and stability. Its multilateral approach seeks to address evolving security challenges.
- In tandem with security cooperation, C-SIPA signifies a significant economic partnership. The UK and Bahrain together announced a £2 billion investment deal focused on key growth sectors, promising to stimulate the UK economy by creating jobs and encouraging investment in innovation and trade.
- The agreement enables integrated innovation efforts in emerging technology, potentially amplifying defense capabilities and enhancing economic competitiveness across member states.
Implications
- By becoming a full member of C-SIPA, the UK cements its influential role in Gulf security and its commitment to stability in the Middle East.
- Strengthened defense cooperation, including joint training and interoperability, will bolster the operational readiness and regional security coordination between UK and Bahrain armed forces.
- The economic investment partnership offers the UK a gateway to expanding horizons in the Gulf's emerging markets and growth sectors, ultimately diversifying economic ties beyond traditional channels.
- C-SIPA may expand to encompass other like-minded countries, creating an extended coalition with a regional focus on Middle Eastern security and prosperity.
- The UK's full membership in C-SIPA, as announced by Downing Street, signifies a significant shift in UK-Bahrain politics and policy-and-legislation, aiming to address war-and-conflicts and foster regional stability through security, defense, economic cooperation, and emerging technologies.
- General news outlets have highlighted the benefits of this agreement, which include strengthening defense cooperation, stimulating economic growth through investment, and potentially expanding horizons for the UK in the Gulf's emerging markets, all while bolstering the UK's role in Gulf security and commitment to Middle East stability.
