During the meeting, King Hamad praised the deep-rooted bilateral relations and military coordination between Manama and Washington, emphasizing the critical role the US plays in maintaining stability across the region. The high-level talks also covered broader international developments and shared defense interests, though the official duration of the US delegation’s visit was not disclosed, News.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
The defense meeting followed a major regional security dialogue hosted in Manama a day prior. That summit brought together military officials from 12 countries—including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE—to address the current security environment and reaffirm a collective commitment to protecting trade routes through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
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The strategic importance of the US-Bahrain partnership was underscored by recent military action in the region. During his visit, Admiral Cooper publicly commended US service members stationed in Bahrain, noting that a joint counter-drone unit successfully intercepted 14 Iranian attack drones over the last few weeks.
