“We highly value France’s positions of solidarity with our country, as well as its role in protecting maritime corridors and supporting regional stability.” This statement was made by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa—may God protect and preserve him—during his reception of French President Emmanuel Macron. The President visited the Kingdom of Bahrain for one day on October 20, 2026, as part of a Gulf tour that also included Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. During his meeting with His Majesty the King, the French President affirmed that “France stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Bahrain in the face of current challenges,” and highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership between the two friendly nations, noting the broad prospects it offers for developing joint cooperation across all sectors.
The visit is significant in terms of both its timing and its substance, particularly as it coincides with critical regional developments—most notably the ongoing, unresolved crisis between the United States and Iran, as well as the Houthi militias’ targeting of civilian facilities and infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Bahraini-French partnership is built upon several pillars, including high-level official visits between the two sides. These include visits by His Majesty the King to France—the most recent of which took place in February 2026—during which a joint defense cooperation agreement was signed. This agreement includes a provision to strengthen solidarity between the two nations amidst geopolitical tensions at both the regional and global levels, in addition to fostering cooperation across various other fields, such as the economy, energy, and security. The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides regarding cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is noteworthy. According to sources, the MoU aims to “enhance the skills and competencies required to develop a peaceful, civilian nuclear program and ensure its sustainability through appropriate training initiatives.” This memorandum is significant as it bolsters the Kingdom of Bahrain’s capabilities in this vital sector. It aligns with a broader Gulf trend—initiated by the United Arab Emirates through the development of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (under an agreement with South Korea)—followed by an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States in July 2026 concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and now this latest agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and France. This carries two important implications: first, there is a strategic necessity for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to pursue the peaceful nuclear option as they implement their ambitious economic visions, given the critical role of nuclear energy in this context. Second, this diversification of international partnerships serves as a source of strength for the GCC states, which are situated within a volatile regional environment.
The significance of this visit on the international stage is further underscored by two key developments. First, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, which may create opportunities for cooperation with France—a permanent member of the Security Council. His Majesty the King highlighted this, stating: “Through our membership in the UN Security Council, we are keen to deepen coordination with France on regional and international issues—foremost among them the Palestinian cause—to establish a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution and the resolutions of international legitimacy.” Furthermore, the visit of a European Parliament delegation to the Kingdom of Bahrain—which included the sixth joint parliamentary meeting with the Bahraini Council of Representatives on October 5, 2026, followed by a European-Gulf meeting with the speakers of the Shura and Representative Councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and the subsequent announcement of the establishment of a European Chamber of Commerce in Bahrain with the support of the European Union—serves as an indicator of European confidence in the Kingdom’s importance and role. Consequently, French support, within the framework of the European Union, remains a significant pillar.
Both nations have demonstrated notable efforts regarding the Palestinian cause. During its presidency of the 33rd Arab Summit in 2024, the Kingdom of Bahrain called for an international conference, under the auspices of the United Nations, to resolve the Palestinian issue in accordance with the two-state solution. Meanwhile, France—alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—is leading the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, an international diplomatic mechanism dedicated to this objective.
Regionally, both the Kingdom of Bahrain and France play a pivotal role in addressing threats to regional security, particularly those concerning maritime navigation. In 2026, Bahraini diplomacy succeeded in securing the adoption of UN Resolution 2817—supported by 138 countries—which reaffirms the freedom of international navigation in accordance with international agreements and laws. In the same vein, France took the lead among European nations in establishing and spearheading a maritime awareness mission in the Strait of Hormuz in 2020, with the support of eight other European countries.
The aforementioned examples are not exhaustive; there remain three areas that require further French engagement—efforts that would naturally resonate within the partnership between France, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as a whole.
First: France’s role regarding regional security issues—specifically concerning Lebanon and Syria—aimed at consolidating regional stability and security. This is rooted in the unique nature of France’s historical ties with both nations, as well as Paris’s accumulated experience in engaging with them.
Second: Addressing the threats posed by armed militias in the region, whose actions have transcended all international laws and norms. This necessitates a firm international stance—most notably by designating these militias as terrorist organizations and severing all forms of material support to them.
Third: Launching initiatives to resolve regional conflicts. The European role—and the French role in particular—remains vital to achieving regional stability. This is underscored by the reality that the traditional distinction between “regional” and “international” threats is no longer tenable—a fact clearly demonstrated by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
The outcomes achieved through the Bahraini-French partnership, particularly in the security domain, exemplify what is termed “added value” within such strategic alliances.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.

Dr. Ashraf Mohammed Keshk, Director of International and Strategic Studies Program