The U.S. and Bahrain reportedly plan to sign a strategic security and economic agreement this week that will upgrade America's security commitment to the Gulf kingdom.
Axios, citing three unnamed sources, reported that Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is expected to sign the pact during a visit to Washington.
He's also set to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Axios reported.
Last week, Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden's senior Middle East adviser, visited Bahrain and met with the crown prince and other Bahrain officials, Axios noted.
The agreement includes a commitment to consult and provide assistance if Bahrain faces an imminent security threat, Axios reported.
The outlet noted that Bahrain sees Iran — less than 100 miles away on the other side of the Gulf — as a threat, and that the Gulf kingdom is already a key partner for the U.S., with the Navy's 5th Fleet headquartered there.
As a non-NATO ally of the U.S., however, there are no security commitments, Axios reported.
Iran has claimed Bahrain as one of its provinces, which the Bahrain government has rejected while accusing Tehran of fueling unrest among the kingdom's Shiite population, Axios reported.
The looming U.S.-Bahrain agreement includes a commitment to consult and provide assistance if Bahrain faces an imminent security threat, Axios reported.
The outlet also reported the new agreement will be legally binding, and include a security commitment and outline an economic partnership between the U.S. and Bahrain as well as cooperation involving some technologies.
It does not, however, include a NATO-style Article 5 commitment, which would have required the U.S. to see any attack on Bahrain as an attack on America, Axios reported.
The White House and the Bahrain Embassy declined to comment to Axios.
According to Axios, the U.S.-Bahrain strategic agreement has been in the works for more than a year — and that the Biden administration wanted to use the pact as a framework for similar agreements with other countries in the region.
The agreement is also part of a broader push by the Biden administration to strengthen ties with Gulf countries, Axios reported.
Biden and his allies on Saturday announced plans to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe, an ambitious project aimed at fostering economic growth and political cooperation, the Associated Press reported.
The Biden administration is holding talks with Saudi Arabia on a deal that could also include a U.S.-Saudi Arabia defense treaty, the AP reported.
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