Joint Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and France: A Qualitative Security Partnership between the two Countries

During His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s visit to the French Republic on February 6, 2026, and his meeting with His Excellency French President Emmanuel Macron, a joint cooperation agreement in the field of defense was signed. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain by His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Secretary General of the Supreme Defense Council, and on behalf of France by Her Excellency Ms. Alice Rouffo, Minister Delegate to the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.

According to information reported by various news agencies on the content of the agreement, it includes three points: first, training and exchange of strategic information; second, industrial cooperation in the field of defense; and third, strengthening solidarity between the two countries in the context of geopolitical tensions at the regional and global levels.

Before discussing the importance and areas of the three types of cooperation between the two countries, it should be emphasized that France has played an important role in maintaining security in the Arabian Gulf in general, starting with its participation with various weapons in the Operation Decisive Will coalition, which was formed by the administration of former US President Ronald Reagan to protect oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War -Iranian War in the 1980s; through participation in the US-led international coalition to liberate Kuwait in 1991; and then the inauguration of a military base in the United Arab Emirates (Camp Peace) in 2009, located near the Strait of Hormuz; to the establishment and leadership of the European Maritime Awareness Mission in the Strait of Hormuz in 2020, with the support of eight European countries, based in Abu Dhabi.

This means that France’s role in supporting the security and balance of power in the Arabian Gulf has remained a constant and firm conviction among all political elites in the French Republic. This coincides with the vision of the Kingdom of Bahrain in this regard, which has various security partnerships with major powers in the world, including: Hosting the US Fifth Fleet, its partnership with NATO under the Istanbul Initiative in 2004, and the signing of the Comprehensive Security and Prosperity Partnership Agreement with the United States in 2023, which the United Kingdom joined in 2025.

Promises to begin with, the three areas of the agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the French Republic are significant in terms of content and timing. In terms of training and strategic information exchange, there is no doubt that increasing the readiness of the armed forces to face the accelerating pace and nature of security threats remains a strategic goal for any country. The armed forces of the Kingdom of Bahrain have gained diverse experience through conducting numerous joint exercises, both within the Gulf Cooperation Council and with regional parties and international partners, making them a reliable regional partner for France. The exchange of strategic information also contributes to the effectiveness of the precautionary measures that both countries must take to limit the repercussions of any emergency crisis in the region, which includes their vital interests in light of the interdependence between regional and global security.

Industrial cooperation in the field of defense is also of great importance. The Kingdom of Bahrain has a military institution for the development of military manufacturing, which was established by Royal Decree No. 23 of 2022. Articles 2 and 3 of the seven articles establishing the institution refer to the use of modern technologies in military manufacturing, an issue of concern to both the Kingdom of Bahrain and France, given the changing concept of security and threats as a result of the development of these technologies. The Kingdom can benefit from French plans in this regard, as France has announced a comprehensive plan for military manufacturing through the Military Programming Law for the period 2024-2030, in addition to France’s important experience in assigning digital soldiers to the French army since 2017, whose mission is to prevent any breaches of military equipment.

There is no doubt that the agreement aims to strengthen solidarity between the two countries through a qualitative partnership that is reinforced at the security and political levels. At the security level, the issue of countering maritime security threats stands out as a priority for both parties. The Kingdom of Bahrain has played an important role—and continues to do so—in addressing these challenges, both through the Gulf Cooperation Council and through its participation in the Prosperity Guardian coalition in 2023 to counter threats to maritime navigation in the southern Red Sea and south of Aden. France participates in the European naval force (ESPADES), which was sent to the Red Sea for the same purpose in February 2024, which means the integration of expertise and efforts in addressing these threats within operational frameworks that enhance the capabilities of both sides in this area. France was also one of the countries (the European Troika), alongside the United Kingdom and Germany, that negotiated with Iran on its nuclear program for many years.

Military cooperation in international relations always reflects a political vision that mirrors the alignment of the parties’ positions, which is evident in the Bahraini-French relations, where there is a convergence of views on many regional and international issues. Both sides have been keen to institutionalize these relations through the Bahrain-France Joint High Committee, which held its fourth meeting in June 2025 in the French capital Paris, chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s partnership with France, a permanent member of the Security Council – will support the Kingdom’s efforts to promote peace and stability, resolve conflicts by peaceful means, and consolidate the principles of the United Nations during its non-permanent membership of the Security Council for 2026 and 2027, which are common goals pursued by the French Republic at the same time.

This agreement may open the door to cooperation in other areas in the future, in response to developments in the regional security environment and the international context. However, what is certain is that partnership agreements of this kind are based on a shared conviction of the need for cooperation, through a mutual commitment to achieve added value for both parties, in light of rapid and unprecedented regional and global changes, as well as the goal of achieving regional balance, which is a fundamental requirement for the security of the Arab Gulf states, including the Kingdom of Bahrain.

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

Dr. Ashraf Mohammed Keshk, Head of Strategic & International