Bahrain and US vowed on Tuesday to further strengthen defense ties, reported the Gulf Daily News.
The topic topped the agenda of a meeting between the Gulf state’s emir, Sheikh Hamad Al Khalifa, and US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield, said the paper.
Bahrain’s emir arrived in Washington on Monday and held talks with President George W. Bush on bilateral and regional issues.
Following his meeting with Rumsfield, the emir “hailed fruitful and constructive discussions towards stronger links in the future with the US,” said the paper.
He said that his visit to the US was in order to hold talks to help develop these relations further.
Asked about the presence of the US bases in Bahrain, the emir said “this is quite natural and part of maintaining peace and development without affecting relations between Bahrain and the US or with any other country in the region.”
During his talks with Bush, Sheikh Hamad urged Bush to “do more” to restart negotiations between the Palestinians and Israeli and help end the escalating situation in the Palestinian territories.
Sheikh Hamad is the first Gulf state head to meet with Bush – Albawaba.com
