14 Days Since the Iranian Aggression: How Prepared Was the Kingdom of Bahrain?
Over the past few months, the Middle East has witnessed growing anxiety over the potential trajectory of tensions, amid mounting signs of a possible escalation. The Kingdom of Bahrain—along with the other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council — have directed their diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation and promoting dialogue, in an effort to contain tensions and preserve regional stability. However, these efforts did not prevent the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC states from facing blatant Iranian attacks beginning on the morning of February 28, raising questions in local circles about Bahrain’s preparedness for this crisis.
In this context, anyone who follows the Kingdom of Bahrain’s approach to safeguarding its national security can clearly see that it is not based solely on immediate reactions, but rather on a set of pillars that take into account developments in the security environment surrounding the Kingdom. These pillars include the development of deterrence and defense mechanisms to ensure the protection of national sovereignty, and the adoption of active diplomatic engagement that contributes to amplifying the voice of moderation and reinforces the Kingdom’s growing standing on the regional and international stages, alongside enhancing institutional and societal resilience in the face of crises to strengthen the internal front. Through these combined pillars, one can understand how the Kingdom seeks to address all types of challenges, as well as the repercussions associated with the escalation in its regional environment, which reached its peak over the past two weeks through Iran’s blatant attacks targeting civilian sites and vital infrastructure.
In terms of deterrence and defense, over the past decade the Kingdom of Bahrain has adopted a series of strategic projects aimed at enhancing combat readiness, the most notable of which was the expansion of its air defense system with advanced Patriot missiles, It was therefore not surprising that this resulted in remarkable operational successes for the Bahraini Armed Forces, reflected in a high rate of successful interceptions of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones since the start of the aggression. These successes are also linked to a broader context of close regional cooperation under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), whose member states, since signing the Joint Defense Agreement in Manama in 2000, have taken significant steps toward defense integration among member states, through the transfer of knowledge and exchange of expertise via joint defense exercises that keep pace with developments in the GCC’s security environment.
Turning to international relations, it is worth noting that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s foreign policy adopts a balanced approach based on emphasizing the importance of adhering to the principles of international law and complying with international legitimacy, thereby laying the foundations for international security and stability, This comes in line with the Kingdom’s leadership role at the diplomatic level in managing the crisis the region is facing due to Iran’s blatant aggression, a role that coincides with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s chairmanship of the current session of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in addition to its non-permanent membership in the Security Council as a representative of the Arab Group. This leadership role was evident in the Security Council’s adoption of Resolution 2817, which was submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of the GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, condemning Iranian aggression against the countries of the region and demanding that Iran immediately cease its attacks, The significance of its adoption lies in the fact that it reflects a UN obligation on Iran to cease its aggression against the countries of the region, on the one hand, and the broad international rejection of those attacks, on the other, given that 135 countries officially sponsored the draft resolution.
With regard to institutional resilience and responsiveness, it is worth highlighting the Kingdom of Bahrain’s continuous development over the past decade of its cybersecurity infrastructure on the one hand, and its civil emergency management on the other. During crises, countries typically experience an escalation of cyber threats, which have become an integral part of modern warfare, given their role as a means capable of damaging critical infrastructure and sowing chaos. Here, the Kingdom’s sustained focus on developing its cyber infrastructure has emerged as a sign of a deep understanding of the strategic priority that information security represents. These efforts have resulted in the Kingdom of Bahrain being ranked among the top tier globally in the Global Cybersecurity Index, with a “Category 1 -Pioneering Model” in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Furthermore, the Kingdom of Bahrain has devoted significant attention to developing its civil emergency management plans, including the formation of the National Committee for Civil Emergency Management, which is tasked with fostering a national culture of risk awareness and mitigation through comprehensive plans that ensure resilience and rapid response. This has been demonstrated in practice through the professional and swift handling of the damage caused by the Iranian aggression against a number of facilities in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Thus, the crisis we are currently witnessing, despite its high potential for escalation in the security environment, simultaneously highlights commendable national efforts to mitigate its associated impacts. This reflects the Kingdom of Bahrain’s approach, which balances risk management with the promotion of stability by achieving strategic integration among its national agencies on the one hand, and strengthening its regional and international presence on the other.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Abdulrahman Ebrahim, Alfezea Senior Analyst
