Forging a US–Gulf Axis Against Iran: UK Joins Bahrain–US Pact with $2.7 Billion Commitment

Despite limited returns from its US alliance, Bahrain welcomes more Western investment

Image: GOV.UK

Bahrain and the United Kingdom have finalised a Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership, including a $2.7 billion deal, during Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s official visit to London. The agreement outlines Bahraini private sector investment across various UK industries, and complements a Defence Cooperation Accord signed between the two countries’ defence ministers. These pacts build upon Washington’s post-7 October intensification of engagement with Bahrain, which culminated in their Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA). This flurry signals the deliberate formation of a new regional security-economic axis, one that is directly shaped by the Iran-Israel conflict and the evolving architecture of Gulf geopolitics.