Bahrain–United Kingdom relations
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 United Kingdom |
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Bahrain – United Kingdom relations are bilateral relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom. Bahrain has an embassy in London and the United Kingdom is only one of four European countries to have embassy in Manama. Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971 and has since maintained strong diplomatic, military and trade relations.
History
Bahrain signed General Maritime Treaty with the United Kingdom in 1820, and became a British protectorate.
The main British naval base in the region was moved to Bahrain in 1935 shortly after the start of large-scale oil production.[1]
In 1960, the United Kingdom put Bahrain's future to international arbitration and requested that the United Nations Secretary-General take on this responsibility.
In 1970, Iran laid claim to Bahrain and the other Persian Gulf islands. The British Government then persuaded Iran to drop its claim to the island of Bahrain.[2] However, in an agreement with the United Kingdom it agreed "not to pursue" its claims on Bahrain if its other claims were realized.
In the same year, the United Nations reported that "the Bahrainis were virtually unanimous in wanting a fully independent sovereign state.[3]
The following plebiscite saw Bahrainis confirm their Arab identity and independence from Britain. Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on August 15, 1971.[1] The British withdrew from Bahrain on 16 December 1971, making Bahrain an independent emirate.
In 2005, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad ibn `Isa Al Khalifah released a joint statement saying that the two countries "have a strong, warm and longstanding relationship, rooted in our friendship over the years and in the 1971 Friendship Treaty".[4]
7,000 Britons work in Bahrain making it the largest European community of expatriates. There are also more than 2,000 Bahraini students studying in Britain.[5]
Trade
In 2004, bilateral trade between the countries was worth £230 million.[4]
Agreements
In 2006, Bahrain and the United Kingdom signed an agreement for the promotion of protection investments which was designed "to create favourable conditions for greater investment by nationals and companies of one State in the territory of the other State." [6]
On June 13, 2007, a cooperation agreement was signed between Bahrain Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.[5]
On the 11th of October, 2012, a defense cooperation agreement was signed between Bahrain and the United Kingdom to promote intelligence sharing, education, scientific and technical co-operation and joint training of military forces.[7]
See also
- Foreign relations of United Kingdom
- Foreign relations of Bahrain
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm
- ↑ http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=Speech&id=9650469
- ↑ Statehood and the law of self-determination By D. Raic
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page8009
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://english.bna.bh/newsadmin/printable.php?ID=68189
- ↑ http://www.mofne.gov.bh/topiclist.asp?ctype=agree&id=56
- ↑ http://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?tabid=3182&ItemId=1990
External links
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