US and Bahrain sign 'milestone' nuclear co-operation agreement

The US and Bahrain signed a pact on peaceful nuclear energy as part of billions of dollars worth of deals during the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa's visit to Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani signed the civil nuclear co-operation agreement, according to the US State Department.

The agreement "represents an important step towards establishing a robust civil nuclear partnership between the United States and Bahrain with the aim of enhancing energy security and promoting mutual prosperity through expanded economic co-operation", the State Department said.

Mr Al Zayani commended the strategic co-operation, calling it a milestone in strategic partnership, according to the Bahrain News Agency.

"It aligns with Bahrain's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 and supporting global efforts to address climate change and environmental protection," the BNA said.

It happened during Prince Salman's visit to Washington, where he met Mr Trump in the Oval Office.

The two leaders shook on a $17 billion investment deal in a major boost to the island nation.

Mr Trump has hailed ties with Bahrain.

“Anything they needed, we helped them,” Mr Trump said while meeting Prince Salman. “And anything we needed, they helped us.”

Prince Salman, who is also Prime Minister, said the deal involved “real money".

"These aren’t fake deals," he added.

The agreements include purchasing American planes, jet engines and computer servers. More investments could be made in aluminium production and artificial intelligence.

Bahrain's King Hamad is expected to visit Washington before the end of the year. An important part of the relationship will be an agreement, signed on Wednesday, to advance co-operation on civilian nuclear energy.

The agreement was signed by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Rubio, with the aim of supporting Bahrain’s efforts to achieve energy security and carbon neutrality by 2060.

Mr Al Zayani described the agreement as a “significant qualitative leap” in the partnership between the two countries.

He said that the two nations were seeking to develop advanced technologies that provide safe, secure and reliable civil nuclear energy.

Bahrain is expected to sign a deal valued at about $7 billion for its national carrier, Gulf Air, to buy 12 Boeing aircraft with an option for six more and 40 General Electric engines, according to a White House official.

Dinner with Qatari Prime Minister

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, the Prime Minister of Qatar, was also at the White House for a private dinner with Mr Trump on Wednesday evening.

The two were expected to discuss negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Qatar has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in the talks.

Although Mr Trump has repeatedly said that a ceasefire was imminent, negotiators have yet to reach a breakthrough. Talks have continued in Doha for a second consecutive week without progress.

Sources say the discussions have stalled over the scope of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza – a proposal Hamas has rejected as inadequate.

Israel has informed Egyptian and Qatari mediators it intends to create a security zone up to 2km deep along its entire border with Gaza as well as the enclave's Mediterranean coast, sources told The National on Wednesday.

They said Israel has also told the mediators it plans to evict residents of the northern Gaza towns of Jabalia and Beit Lahia and resettle them in Al Mawasi, a narrow strip of coastal land near the southern city of Khan Younis.

Israel informed them of its intention to gather hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in a “humanitarian city” south of Rafah on the border with Egypt, according to the sources.

Hamas has claimed that Israel wants to keep at least 40 per cent of the Gaza Strip under its control as part of any deal to end the war.

Mr Trump visited the Gulf in May, making stops in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. While in Qatar, he toured Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

The base was attacked by Iran after US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. One ballistic missile struck the base, while others were intercepted.

Mr Trump has expressed interest in using a luxurious Boeing 747, donated by Qatar, as his version of Air Force One, citing frustration with delays in Boeing’s delivery of new aircraft. However, the proposed arrangement has sparked controversy and raised political, security and ethical concerns.