[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1263 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1263

  Affirming Congress' support of diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of 
                                Bahrain.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 28, 2024

Mrs. Miller of West Virginia submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Affirming Congress' support of diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of 
                                Bahrain.

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of 
        Bahrain in 1971;
Whereas Bahrain is a significant partner in free trade with the United States, 
        with bilateral trade reaching $4,000,000,000 in 2022;
Whereas the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization (NATO) ally on March 14, 2002;
Whereas Bahrain has contributed to bringing political stability to the Middle 
        East and North Africa, providing a United States naval base in the 
        Arabian Gulf since 1947;
Whereas Bahrain, as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Gulf 
        Cooperation Council, has worked with the United States to increase 
        cooperation on border security, maritime security, military 
        preparedness, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism;
Whereas Naval Support Activity Bahrain provides operation support to United 
        States Armed Forces and Coalition Forces and is home to United States 
        Naval Forces Central Command and the United States Fifth Fleet;
Whereas Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, based in Bahrain, serves as a critical 
        duty station for the United States Coast Guard in the Gulf;
Whereas the area of responsibility of the Fifth Fleet encompasses about 
        2,500,000 square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf 
        of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea as well as three 
        critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the 
        Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen;
Whereas, in order to combat the Houthi attacks, the Navy is ``working at a pace 
        unseen in the Middle East in decades'', according to Stars and Stripes, 
        the defense publication authorized by Congress for servicemembers;
Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain signed the Comprehensive 
        Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA) to enhance 
        cooperation across a wide range of areas including defense and security;
Whereas CSIPA includes the following language: ``Any external aggression or 
        threat of external aggression against the sovereignty, independence, and 
        territorial integrity of any of the Parties shall be a matter of grave 
        concern to the other Parties. In the event of external aggression or the 
        threat of external aggression against one Party, the Parties shall, in 
        accordance with their respective constitutions and laws, immediately 
        meet at the most senior levels to determine additional defense needs and 
        to develop and implement appropriate defense and deterrent responses as 
        decided upon by the Parties, including in the economic, military, and/or 
        political realms. The Parties stand ready to immediately share available 
        and appropriate information and intelligence in response to such an 
        event'';
Whereas cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain 
        expanded upon in the CSIPA provides greater regional stability, a 
        greater ability to respond to pressing threats, and builds on ``the 
        decades-long U.S. security partnership with Bahrain's military forces'', 
        as noted in the agreement;
Whereas CSIPA calls for an expanded economic partnership between the United 
        States and the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the goal of promoting free 
        trade, supply chain resilience, and regional peace and prosperity;
Whereas CSIPA is based on bolstering Middle East regional security, stability, 
        and prosperity by ``enhancing deterrence and defense integration and 
        interoperability'';
Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain agreed to hold additional 
        training and military education programs and military maneuvers under 
        CSIPA;
Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain committed to continue joint 
        planning to confront threats to either country, including attacks from 
        Iranian proxy groups;
Whereas the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain agreed to strengthen their 
        joint military and defense capabilities and improve force 
        interoperability, including by increasing bilateral provision of defense 
        articles and services; and
Whereas CSIPA provides for the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to 
        cooperatively deter, identify, and confront external aggression or 
        threats of external aggression against the United States or the Kingdom 
        of Bahrain, including in the military, economic, or political realms: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports and encourages 
the growing partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain.
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