A telephone call was held today between His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

Manama, His Royal Highness reviewed the strength of the Bahrain-US partnership, highlighting the importance of bolstering joint coordination to achieve common goals and interests. Regional and global issues of common interest were also discussed, as well as the latest developments in the Middle East, including the situation in the Gaza Strip. On the Gaza conflict, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister underscored the Kingdom of Bahrain's firm stance toward the Palestinian cause and its unwavering commitment to reaching a peaceful, lasting, and fair solution in support of Palestinians' legitimate right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad further outlined the importance of protecting civilian lives and de-escalating violence, which threatens regional security and stability. Also during the call His Royal Highness and the Secretary discussed how cooperation under the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SI PA) continues to strengthen the strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States. For his part, the US Secretary of State expressed his appreciation for Bahrain's contributions to maritime security. Source: Bahrain News Agency