The White House statement links specialization to normalization of dealings with Israel, saying it showed ‘remarkable courage’.
The United States named Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as “key security partners” on Saturday, an unprecedented announcement for both countries as home to a major American military operation.
Separately, President Donald Trump received the highest honor of Morocco on Friday for his work in advancing a normalization treaty between the kingdom and Israel.
A White House statement linked Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates ‘(UAE)’ s key security partners “to normalize ties with Israel, saying he” believed in the remarkable courage, determination and leadership “. . He also noted that both countries have long participated in U.S. military exercises.
It was unclear what the designation means for Bahrain, an island kingdom off Saudi Arabia in the Gulf, and the UAE, an alliance of seven sheikhdoms home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and the UAE’s Jebel Ali port is the busiest port for American warships outside the U.S. Bahrain hosts some 5,000 American troops while the UAE hosts 3,500, many at Al-Dhafra Air Base.
The U.S. uses the designation of a “non-NATO alliance” to describe its relationship with Kuwait, which hosts the main U.S. Army authority. That designation provides specific financial and military matters for a non-NATO country. Bahrain is also a friendly friend of NATO.
The U.S. Army Main Order and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Fifth Fleet submitted questions to the Department of State, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House designation comes in the last days of the Trump administration. The president forged close ties with the Gulf countries during his tenure in part over his harsh stance on Iran. That is on a series of escalating events between the countries after Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran ‘s nuclear deal with world powers.
It also comes after Bahrain and the UAE joined forces with Egypt and Saudi Arabia in starting to unleash a year-long boycott of Qatar, another Gulf Arab country that is home to Al Udeid Air Base which hosts the advanced operating base of US Central Command. That boycott began in the early days of Trump’s tenure in office after he visited Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip.
Israel-Morocco Treaty
Morocco is one of four Arab countries, including the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan, which have agreed to normalize ties with Israel.
A senior administration official was quoted as saying that a private reception was held in the Oval Office where Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, presented the Muhammad Order to Trump, an award given to heads of state only. The award was a gift from King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Middle East ambassador Avi Berkowitz received further awards for their work on the Israel-Morocco treaty, which was reached in December.
Trump, who leaves office Wednesday, has drawn some criticism of the Morocco agreement because to seal the agreement, he agreed that the United States would recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Western Sahara has been the site of a territorial conflict for decades between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, a movement that seeks to establish an independent state in the region.
Kushner’s team had been working on reaching more agreements between Israel and the Arab world. But time has run out and no more is expected before Trump leaves.
The media was not allowed to see a Moroccan award ceremony. Trump has been limiting his public appearance since losing the election on Nov. 3.