The Strategic Partnership Between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union: A Perspective on How Small States Leverage International Partnerships

A state’s ability to influence the international system is not always measured by its geographic size, population, or resources. International experience has demonstrated that small states, despite the constraints associated with limited territory and domestic capabilities, have been able to build influential roles through international institutions, balanced partnerships, and active diplomacy.

The literature on international relations refers to these challenges through the concept of the “small state dilemma,” which reflects the limitations arising from constrained resources and the difficulty of achieving security independently. However, this dilemma has not prevented small states from developing tools to enhance their security and status. On the contrary, it has encouraged them to rely on partnerships and alliances as a means of expanding their room for maneuver and strengthening their international presence.

Within this context, the negotiations on Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs) between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union acquire particular significance, serving as a model of how small states can utilize institutional partnerships to move from traditional cooperation toward a more comprehensive and sustainable framework.

This type of partnership becomes even clearer when examining the experiences of decision-makers from small states, whose national backgrounds have often shaped a particular understanding of the importance of alliances and collective frameworks. A notable example is Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, who comes from the Republic of Estonia. Estonia is a small European country that experienced periods of instability before strengthening its security and international position through integration into European and transatlantic institutions.

This national experience has been reflected in Kallas’s political career, both as Prime Minister of her country and in her current role leading European diplomacy, where she has consistently emphasized the importance of collective alliances as a fundamental element in ensuring the security of states with limited capabilities.

This idea extends beyond contemporary Europe and can be observed in the historical experiences of other policymakers from small states. One prominent example is Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. Born in Prague, she spent her early childhood amid European upheavals that forced her family to leave their country several times in search of safety. Experiences of vulnerability and displacement left a clear mark on her political outlook. Albright became known for advocating the expansion of NATO to include Central and Eastern European countries, driven by her belief in the importance of collective frameworks for protecting small states operating within unstable security environments.

This does not mean that a policymaker’s national background necessarily determines their choices. Rather, it provides a context that helps explain why institutional partnerships are particularly important for small states. From this perspective, the trajectory of Bahrain–EU relations can be understood as part of a broader pattern in which partnerships are employed to enhance stability and expand fields of cooperation.

The announcement of the launch of negotiations on Strategic Partnership Agreements between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union followed a meeting between Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the presence of Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Regional Security and Cooperation Forum between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union.

The announcement of these negotiations represents an important milestone in relations between the two sides, reflecting a transition toward a broader institutional framework encompassing political and security dialogue, coordination in multilateral forums, and expanded economic cooperation.

For the Kingdom of Bahrain, this partnership forms part of a broader approach aimed at leveraging the tools available to small states and strengthening its regional and international presence. Through its engagement within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council, its non-permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, and its focus on maritime security and freedom of navigation, Bahrain seeks to reinforce its role in regional and international affairs. With negotiations now underway, multiple opportunities emerge to develop cooperation in areas such as political and security dialogue, investment and technology, energy, and sustainable development, thereby establishing a long-term framework for collaboration and enhancing the capacity to address shared challenges.

Conclusion

The strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the European Union demonstrates that a state’s influence is not determined solely by its size, but also by its ability to build effective partnerships, make use of international institutions, and transform its diplomatic engagement into practical tools that advance its interests and strengthen its position within the international system.