USCENTCOM Commander Visits the Kingdom of Bahrain

On 10 - 11 January, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited U.S. servicemembers and conducted key leader engagements in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Gen. Kurilla met with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and discussed a range of topics, such as ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and enhance interoperability of U.S. Bahrain forces in support of military readiness and regional stability. The leaders discussed the opportunities created by the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), signed in September 2023 between the United States and Bahrain.

Gen. Kurilla thanked His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for Bahrain's vital partnership in promoting regional security. Gen. Kurilla also visited U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) and Fifth Fleet headquarters, and several of the of their subordinate Task Forces where he spoke with leadership and servicemembers about their mission to secure freedom of navigation and global commerce across the region and strengthen partner nations' maritime capabilities.

The United States has had a military-to-military relationship with Bahrain for over 75 years dating back to 1948 and established diplomatic relations in 1971. The Kingdom of Bahrain remains a critical partner in the region's security architecture, defense initiatives, and regional economic prosperity.