May 20, 2022
For the first time, Bahrain has publicly declared Iran to be its biggest enemy, adding that it will count on the US and Israel to ensure its security, thus defying repeated Iranian warnings against hosting foreign forces and normalizing relations with Israel.
The declaration also goes contrary to Saudi Arabia, which is lessening its ties with the United States and cozying up to Russia and China, apparently on the assumption that the Americans are withdrawing from the Middle East and can no longer be relied upon.
In a meeting with a delegation of US businesspeople, Bahraini Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa said, “Iran is our number one, two, and three enemy and, after normalization agreements with Israel, we rely on the US and Israel to provide us with security.”
The Bahraini minister accused Iran of illicitly transferring weapons to Shiite rebels on the island nation and of trying to conduct drone strikes on the island, as well as giving military training to Bahraini Shias fighting the ruling Sunni royal family, the Bahrain Mirror reported April 26.
He also blamed Iran for playing a role in the 2011 uprising against the Al Khalifa regime and supporting Shiite rebels. Bahrain is about 60 percent Shiite, but the Khalifa family, which has ruled Bahrain since 1783, is Sunni.
The Bahraini minister said the normalization of relations with Israel has provided Bahrain with a new layer of security.
“Bahrain is a small country and our strategy is to create several security layers,” Al-Khalifah said, adding that in order to implement the strategy, “We will rely on our allies, namely the US, and now, after becoming a signatory to the Abraham Accords [with Israel], a new layer of security is ensured.”