Bahrain–United States relations

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Bahrain – United States relations

Bahrain
United States

Bahrain–United States relations are bilateral relations between Bahrain and the United States. Relations between the two countries are generally warm and friendly.

Country Comparison

Bahrain United States
Population 1,234,571 318,108,000
Area 765.3 km2 (295.5 sq mi) 9,826,630 km2 (3,794,066 sq mi)
Population Density 1,626.6/km2 (4,212.8/sq mi) 31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Capital Manama Washington, D.C.
Largest City Manama – 155,000 New York City – 8,175,133 (18,897,109 Metro)
Government Unitary Constitutional Monarchy Federal presidential constitutional republic
First Leader Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Khalifa George Washington
Current Leader Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa Barack Obama
Official languages Arabic None at federal level (English is most spoken)
Main religions 70.2% Islam, 29.8 other 75% Christianity, 20% non-Religious, 2% Judaism, 1% Islam, 1% Buddhism
Ethnic groups ---- 74% White American, 14.8% Hispanic and Latino Americans (of any race),
13.4% Black American, 6.5% Some other race, 4.4% Asian American,
2.0% Two or more races, 0.68% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.14% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
GDP (nominal) US$26.108 billion($23,132 per capita) US$14.441 trillion ($47,440 per capita)
Military expenditures ---- $663.7 billion (FY 2010) [1]
Currency Bahraini Dinar (BHD) United States Dollar ($) (USD)

History

Bahrain has provided a base for U.S. naval activity in the Persian Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent in 1971, the US-Bahrain relationship was formalized with the establishment of diplomatic relations, initiated by the diplomatic recognition of Bahrain as a sovereign state by the US. The U.S. embassy at Manama was opened September 21, 1971, and the country's first resident ambassador, Joseph W. Twinam, was sent in 1974.[2] The Bahraini embassy in Washington, DC, opened in 1977. In October 1991, Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003. King Hamad made an official visit to Washington in November 2004 to meet with President Bush and cabinet-level officials.

Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. The U.S. designated Bahrain a Major non-NATO ally in October 2001.

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century.

Diplomatic missions

The U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain is Thomas C. Krajeski, appointed in June 2011.[3]

In June 2008, Bahrain appointed Houda Nounou as an Ambassador to the United States.[4]

External links

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).

  1. ↑ http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/budget/defense.pdf
  2. ↑ "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Bahrain". US State Department. Retrieved 4 April 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate". United States White House. Retrieved 4 July 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Bahreïn persiste et signe", Radio Canada, June 8, 2008



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