As the conflict in the Gulf enters its fourth week, regional stability has once again become a central concern in political and security discussions, as critical infrastructure across several countries continues to be targeted by missiles and drones.
Over the second weekend of fighting, Bahrain suffered a particularly heavy toll. The country’s main oil refinery was struck, forcing operators to declare force majeure and disrupting production, while the attacks also resulted in casualties. At the same time, Bahrain appeared to intensify or renew its security partnerships with Western actors, seeking to reinforce deterrence and ensure external support in the event that tensions with Iran escalate into a broader conflict.
Indeed, during a phone call on Thursday with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom would deploy four additional Typhoon fighter jets to the region. The aircraft will be stationed in Qatar to provide defensive air cover for Bahrain and strengthen the protection of its airspace.
Moreover, on Friday the Bahraini administration signed a historic bilateral defence agreement with France. The deal aims to open new opportunities for industrial cooperation in the defence sector while strengthening solidarity between the two countries “in a global and regional geopolitical context marked by increasing tensions.”
Bahrain also moved to further reinforce its ties with the United States and the United Kingdom on Friday, particularly after a U.S. military base in the country was heavily damaged during the attacks. Bahrain’s national security adviser and secretary-general of the Supreme Defense Council held consultations with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper and the United Kingdom’s Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff. During the meeting, officials discussed the need for a coordinated allied response to what they described as a direct threat to Bahrain’s sovereignty. They reaffirmed the strength of their strategic partnership and their commitment to enhancing security cooperation and collective deterrence in order to address mounting threats to regional stability.
The reinforcement of global security partnerships comes at a time when Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi participated via video conference in an extraordinary ministerial session of the Arab League Council to address the ongoing regional crisis. He emphasized that the current moment requires urgent Arab solidarity. Albudaiwi expressed appreciation for the support shown by Arab states and called on them to help mobilize international backing for a GCC-submitted draft resolution at the UN Security Council, calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities and “Iranian attacks against GCC member states”.
The resolution, presented by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC, received significant international support, with 135 countries voting in favour of its adoption. While this outcome can be seen as reinforcing Bahrain’s international legitimacy and concerns over its security, the resolution notably stopped short of condemning the attacks carried out by Bahrain’s American ally. Indeed, these strikes have been widely criticised as violations of international law and have contributed to significant humanitarian suffering in Iran.
While Bahrain has strategically moved to strengthen its partnerships with key global powers in an effort to ensure its security, this approach may also increase its exposure to retaliation and further entangle the country in the wider geopolitical confrontation. As the conflict continues to unfold, Bahrain’s reliance on external security guarantees underscores both the importance and the risks of alliance-based deterrence in an increasingly volatile regional environment. The coming weeks will likely determine whether these partnerships succeed in deterring further escalation or instead draw the kingdom more deeply into a widening Gulf crisis. Ultimately, regardless of the strategic calculations of states, it is civilians who will bear the heaviest cost.
