Gordon G. Chang
In December, the United Kingdom joined the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement. More countries will follow. C-SIPA, as the still-small grouping is known, could soon become the NATO of the Middle East.
That region desperately needs stability. The landmark agreement, signed by the Biden administration with the Kingdom of Bahrain in September 2023, can provide it by building on the landmark Abraham Accords of the first Trump term. Bahrain is a party to one of the three ratified accords.
China has its longstanding relationship with the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies. America has something better: the brand new C-SIPA.
"Today, C-SIPA is instrumental in enabling both nations, Bahrain and the U.S., to navigate complex threats and foster resilience," Al Khalafalla of the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies told me this month. "The framework promotes coordinated responses to shared challenges, enhancing bilateral cooperation in various vital sectors."
"It should come as no surprise that Bahrain was Washington's first choice when selecting an Arab country for increased cooperation," writes Elizabeth Dent of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "The small Shia-majority island ruled by a Sunni royal family has long been a key economic, security, and diplomatic partner in the region."
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