India and Bahrain Reaffirm Centuries-Old Friendship and Expand Cooperation at 5th High Joint Commission Meeting
India and Bahrain, bound by centuries-old ties of friendship and trade, hold the 5th High Joint Commission meeting to strengthen bilateral relations. Key progress includes defense, security, trade, health, culture, and emerging fields like space and fintech. Both nations emphasize growth in trade and investments, maritime cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, while supporting regional peace and prosperity.
At the 5th India-Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting held in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between the two countries, historically rooted in trade and strong people-to-people ties. Jaishankar highlighted significant bilateral progress since the last meeting in areas including defense, security, trade and commerce, health, and culture. He emphasized new promising domains such as space exploration, fintech, and technology collaboration. The meeting underscored a steady growth in bilateral trade and investments, encouraging Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in India through forthcoming initiatives like a Bilateral Investment Treaty and a Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment. Maritime cooperation received attention through Indian naval visits and participation in Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain. Jaishankar also conveyed congratulations to Bahrain for successfully hosting the 21st Manama Dialogue and preparing for its presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), anticipating stronger India-GCC ties. Further initiatives include enhanced cooperation in healthcare, cultural exchanges, and facilitating easier travel via an electronic visa system for Bahraini nationals. Both countries share a commitment to promoting peace and stability in their common region, with India showing support for the Gaza peace plan. This meeting marks a reinforcement of multifaceted India-Bahrain relations focused on peace, prosperity, and economic partnership for the future.
