Affirming Congress' support of diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Bill: 118-hres-1263
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
Introduced: 2024-05-28
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-05-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution supports and encourages the growing U.S. partnership with Bahrain.</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1263 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 28, 2024 Mrs. Miller of West Virginia submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Affirming Congress’ support of diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1971; Whereas Bahrain is a significant partner in free trade with the United States, with bilateral trade reaching $4,000,000,000 in 2022; Whereas the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally on March 14, 2002; Whereas Bahrain has contributed to bringing political stability to the Middle East and North Africa, providing a United States naval base in the Arabian Gulf since 1947; Whereas Bahrain, as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Gulf Cooperation Council, has worked with the United States to increase cooperation on border security, maritime security, military preparedness, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism; Whereas Naval Support Activity Bahrain provides operation support to United States Armed Forces and Coalition Forces and is home to United States Naval Forces Central Command and the United States Fifth Fleet; Whereas Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, based in Bahrain, serves as a critical duty station for the United States Coast Guard in the Gulf; Whereas the area of responsibility of the Fifth Fleet encompasses about 2,500,000 square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea as well as three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen; Whereas, in order to combat the Houthi attacks, the Navy is working at a pace unseen in the Middle East in decades , according to Stars and Stripes, the defense publication authorized by Congress for servicemembers; Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA) to enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas including defense and security; Whereas CSIPA includes the following language: Any external aggression or threat of external aggression against the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of any of the Parties shall be a matter of grave concern to the other Parties. In the event of external aggression or the threat of external aggression against one Party, the Parties shall, in accordance with their respective constitutions and laws, immediately meet at the most senior levels to determine additional defense needs and to develop and implement appropriate defense and deterrent responses as decided upon by the Parties, including in the economic, military, and/or political realms. The Parties stand ready to immediately share available and appropriate information and intelligence in response to such an event ; Whereas cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain expanded upon in the CSIPA provides greater regional stability, a greater ability to respond to pressing threats, and builds on the decades-long U.S. security partnership with Bahrain’s military forces , as noted in the agreement; Whereas CSIPA calls for an expanded economic partnership between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the goal of promoting free trade, supply chain resilience, and regional peace and prosperity; Whereas CSIPA is based on bolstering Middle East regional security, stability, and prosperity by enhancing deterrence and defense integration and interoperability ; Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain agreed to hold additional training and military education programs and military maneuvers under CSIPA; Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain committed to continue joint planning to confront threats to either country, including attacks from Iranian proxy groups; Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain agreed to strengthen their joint military and defense capabilities and improve force interoperability, including by increasing bilateral provision of defense articles and services; and Whereas CSIPA provides for the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to cooperatively deter, identify, and confront external aggression or threats of external aggression against the United States or the Kingdom of Bahrain, including in the military, economic, or political realms: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives supports and encourages the growing partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain.