London: On Friday, the United States and Bahrain reaffirmed their commitment to promoting freedom of navigation in international waters. They specifically emphasized the significance of ensuring secure passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and denounced actions that threatened freedom of navigation.

Following their meeting in Washington at the conclusion of the third annual US-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al-Zayani released a joint statement on behalf of their respective governments.

According to the statement, "The Strategic Dialogue operationalizes the enduring commitment the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain have to bilateral and regional security, shared economic prosperity, people-to-people connections, and the principles upholding the international order."

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The two nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening regional peace and security as well as to thwarting and addressing any threats to Bahrain.

The statement continued, "Four working groups covering the depth and breadth of bilateral cooperation were involved in the Strategic Dialogue, which was held both virtually and in person during June and July.

Through new initiatives to increase counterterrorism assistance and training, cybersecurity, border-security initiatives, and law enforcement cooperation, it advanced joint efforts in regional security, maritime security, and countering emerging and transnational threats.

The US and Bahrain Free Trade Agreement will be strengthened, and the two sides agreed to continue talking about trade-related issues, telecommunications, tourism, and new initiatives supporting energy efficiency and the switch to clean energy.

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The US and Bahrain reaffirmed their commitment to battling climate change through the implementation of clean energy sources and innovations like carbon-capture technologies ahead of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, in the UAE this year, which will start on Nov. 30.

They emphasized their resolve to keep working together to develop the US Trade Zone and their intention to have the Bahrain Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the American Export-Import Bank sign a memorandum of understanding to make it easier for the former to finance US exports to Bahrain for use in strategic projects.

The countries enjoy extensive and frequently occurring educational and cultural exchanges, and both sides look forward to increasing the opportunities for Bahrainis to study in the US and take part in exchanges, according to the statement, which welcomed closer ties between US and Bahraini universities.

They expressed appreciation for the improvement in cooperation surrounding the fostering of young talent over the previous year and made it known that they intended to sign a memorandum of understanding on youth affairs.

In order to strengthen their long-standing cooperation on cultural exchanges, the US Department of State and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities also intend to sign a similar agreement in the area of cultural heritage. The two sides also talked about how to improve journalism and media cooperation.

Washington and Manama reaffirmed their commitment to the further advancement of regional cooperation within the Negev Forum's working groups, particularly those focusing on regional security and health, which Bahrain and the US co-chair. This was in relation to the Abraham Accords, agreements between several Arab Nations, including Bahrain, to normalize relations with Israel, which were brokered by the US.

"The Abraham Accords build on Bahrain's continued progress in advancing tolerance, coexistence, and the promotion of a multicultural society," the statement read.

The Strategic Dialogue "characterizes the decades-long US-Bahrain friendship and security alliance," the statement continued, and the discussions between the two nations highlight the significance of shared values, including respect for the sovereignty and international law principles enshrined in the UN Charter, as well as the duty to refrain from using force or threatening to use it against any state's borders, territorial integrity, or political independence.

The discussions also emphasized the value of universal principles, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, building on the two nations' ongoing collaboration in the Human Rights Dialogue. The US Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report was discussed, and it was noted that Bahrain had successfully maintained Tier 1 status for six years running.

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The Strategic Dialogue will be held once more in the future, and additional meetings will be held to advance specific initiatives, the two sides said in their final statement. This bilateral mechanism reflects and reaffirms the close relationship between our two countries as well as our shared goals of advancing these goals in order to create a secure, safe, peaceful, and more prosperous future.