Washington: Maura Namdar, Senior Official at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, hosted Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, and Lucy Ferguson, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Washington, to mark the United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA).
According to Bahrain News Agency, the governments of the United States, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement announcing the UK's accession to C-SIPA. This agreement aims to foster broader integration in the Middle East, enhance mutual deterrence against external threats, and expand cooperation to bolster regional security, stability, and prosperity. Initially signed by the United States and Bahrain on September 13, 2023, C-SIPA welcomed the UK as its third party on June 19, 2025.
C-SIPA builds on the foundation laid by the Abraham Accords, signed in Washington in September 2020, which enabled closer security and commercial ties among countries seeking peace and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond. Since joining the Abraham Accords, Bahrain has actively promoted regional integration and cooperation.
The United States, Bahrain, and the United Kingdom highlighted their commitment to advancing C-SIPA's goals through strategic cooperation under its three main pillars: defence and security, economy and trade, and science, technology, and network security.
To further these objectives, the three nations plan to establish working groups dedicated to enhancing strategic cooperation, aiming for a Middle East characterized by increased regional stability, economic collaboration, prosperity, and technological advancement.