Bahrain and France have taken significant steps to enhance their strategic partnership across various sectors, following official talks between Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and French President Emmanuel Macron. The discussions, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations, aimed to expand cooperation in defence, investment, energy, technology, and sustainable development.
The leaders reviewed the longstanding ties between their countries and explored opportunities to advance their partnership in support of shared economic and security interests. The talks also covered regional and international developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East and efforts to address regional challenges. A key highlight was a defence cooperation agreement, which King Hamad noted had been signed during his visit to France in February, providing a framework for collaboration in security, energy, technology, trade, scientific research, and cultural exchanges.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of bolstering defence and security cooperation to protect their countries and support regional stability. King Hamad condemned recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Bahrain’s solidarity with the kingdom. He praised France’s role in promoting maritime security and regional stability, highlighting the need for cooperation through the United Nations, particularly regarding regional security and the Palestinian issue.
Energy security was another focal point of the talks, with both leaders underscoring the importance of reliable energy supplies. Following the discussions, Bahrain and France signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The agreement, signed by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, aims to develop expertise and technical capabilities for a civilian nuclear energy program through specialized training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
In addition to defence and energy, the conversations also touched on opportunities for industrial cooperation, including collaboration with Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), and joint projects in energy, industry, and transportation, such as proposed railway connectivity linking Bahrain with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
During the visit, King Hamad awarded Macron the Collar of the Order of Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Exceptional Class, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen relations between the two nations. The meeting reaffirmed Bahrain and France’s commitment to deepening their strategic partnership and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, including defence, energy, industry, and advanced technology.