Bahrain and France have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership through enhanced cooperation in defence, energy, and technology. This was the outcome of official talks held between Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and French President Emmanuel Macron, as they explored avenues to boost bilateral relations and address shared economic and security interests.
The discussions underscored the significance of their longstanding ties and explored new opportunities for collaboration. King Hamad highlighted a defence cooperation agreement signed earlier this year during his visit to France, which lays the groundwork for expanded collaboration in various sectors including security, technology, trade, and cultural exchanges.
Emphasizing regional security, the leaders agreed on the importance of bolstering defence and security cooperation to ensure stability both locally and regionally. King Hamad condemned the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, expressing Bahrain’s solidarity with the kingdom, and praised France’s efforts in promoting maritime security and regional stability. Macron reaffirmed France’s solidarity with Bahrain and highlighted potential industrial cooperation, notably with Aluminium Bahrain (Alba).
Energy cooperation was another focal point of the talks. Bahrain and France signed a memorandum of understanding on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, aiming to develop expertise and technical capabilities for civilian nuclear programs through specialized training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The leaders also explored potential joint projects in sectors like energy, industry, and transportation. A proposed railway project to connect Bahrain with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries was among the discussed initiatives.
In recognition of his efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations, King Hamad awarded President Macron the Collar of the Order of Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Exceptional Class. The meeting concluded with both countries reaffirming their commitment to deepening their strategic partnership across various sectors.