Manama (Bahrain): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral partnership.
Jaishankar arrived in Bahrain from Qatar on the second leg of this four-nation visit to the Gulf, which also includes Kuwait and Oman, from July 5 to 10.
“Honoured to have an audience with HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. Also privileged to meet HRH Crown Prince and PM Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the audience,” Jaishankar posted on X.
EAM Jaishankar arrived in Bahrain after concluding his engagements in Qatar. During his visit to Doha, he met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and interacted with representatives of Indian community in Qatar.
This is the second stop of EAM Jaishankar’s six-nation visit. After concluding his engagements in Bahrain, he is scheduled to travel to Kuwait, Oman, the US, and Brussels.
On March 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Bahrain King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa during which he had condemned the attacks on Bahrain and expressed solidarity with the people of the country. PM Modi also thanked the Bahrain King for the steadfast support extended to the Indian community in the country.
“Had a productive telephone conversation with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. India condemns the attacks on Bahrain and stands in solidarity with its people in this difficult hour. I thank him for the steadfast support extended to the Indian community in Bahrain,” PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.
The conversation between the two leaders took place during the conflict in West Asia, which started in February after joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, aimed at degrading Tehran’s missile capabilities and broader military infrastructure. The opening wave of the operation killed senior figures in the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a sweeping response from Tehran in the form of drone and missile attacks targeting US assets, regional capitals and allied forces across the Gulf.
India and Bahrain share excellent bilateral relations characterised by cordial political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties, according to the Embassy of India in Bahrain statement. Presence of more than 3,15,000 Indian nationals, who comprise nearly a quarter of the total population of 1.5 million in Bahrain is an important anchor of bilateral ties.
