Saudi security ‘inseparable’ from Bahrain

MPs point to Gulf stability, family ties and closer economic links

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Saudi Arabia's security is inseparable from Bahrain's and from the safety of the Gulf as a whole, MPs stressed marking Saudi National Day.

Any threat to the kingdom reaches far beyond its borders, they argued, pointing to Saudi Arabia's weight in Gulf security and Bahrain's long-standing political and security ties with Riyadh.

MPs Hassan Ebrahim, Dr Maryam Al Dhaen and Khalid BuAnaq also pointed to trade, family ties and decades of close co-ordination between the two kingdoms.

Dr Al Dhaen described Saudi Arabia's safety as a 'key pillar' of security across the region and said Bahrain stands firmly beside the kingdom against threats to its sovereignty and interests.

'Saudi Arabia's security and stability are a key pillar of the security of the region as a whole, given the central role it plays in protecting Gulf and Arab interests and maintaining regional stability,' she said.

Mr Ebrahim called Saudi Arabia Bahrain's 'strategic depth and brotherly support'.

He added that ties between the two countries rest on kinship, a shared fate and long-standing co-ordination.

'The relationship goes beyond the usual framework of co-operation and is based on a common destiny, ties of kinship, firm positions and continued co-ordination across different fields,' he said.

The MPs also congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Saudi people on National Day.

Dr Al Dhaen pointed to the King Fahd Causeway and the planned parallel crossing as two of the clearest signs of the link between the kingdoms, noting that they support trade while keeping families and communities closely connected. She added that Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and Saudi Vision 2030 open room for closer work in energy, tourism, artificial intelligence and innovation.

Parliamentary ties continue through work between Bahrain's Parliament and Shura Council and the Saudi Shura Council, with visits, legislative exchanges and co-ordination at Gulf, Arab and international meetings.

Mr BuAnaq described Saudi National Day as marking 'a record of giving, development and achievement' and pointed to the changes under Saudi Vision 2030 as evidence of the scale of the kingdom's economic drive.

He added that ties between the two kingdoms continue to grow under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and King Salman, with support from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

'The strategic partnership between the two countries is a model of integration and co-operation, both at the Gulf level through the GCC and bilaterally across political, economic and social fields,' Mr BuAnaq said.

Dr Al Dhaen also called for closer cultural and media ties, along with greater scope for youth projects and co-operation involving women in business, education, research and the media.

Mr BuAnaq also congratulated Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif bin Bandar Al Sudairi and praised his work in strengthening links between the two kingdoms and their peoples.