Sharaa cements Syria-Bahrain ties with trip to Manama - analysis
Bahrain is important because it is a close ally of the West, hosts a US naval base, and is also part of the Abraham Accords.
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025.(photo credit: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)BySETH J. FRANTZMANUpdated:
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa made his latest important visit abroad, traveling to Bahrain on Saturday.
This comes after his trip to France last week and his trip to Turkey in early April. He was in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in mid-April, and also traveled to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey in early February, and to Egypt in early March.
As such, Sharaa has now been to many important Gulf countries and has visited countries that do not always agree on regional policy. Bahrain is important because it is a close ally of the West, hosts a US naval base, and is part of the Abraham Accords.
Sharaa arrived with an official delegation to the capital, Manama. He was received by the son of the king, Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who reportedly is also the representative of the king for humanitarian affairs and youth.
Later, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received Sharaa at Al-Sakhir Palace in Manama as part of an official visit, Syria’s SANA state media reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after a joint press conference after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)
Syria plays the field with Middle East partners, Western countries
The visit to Bahrain was announced only days before it happened and is seen as part of Damascus’s regional strategy. This seeks to balance Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as the UAE and Qatar.
Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, and other countries are important to Syria. The Arab Republic also wants to improve ties with the US and is hoping that the visit by US President Donald Trump in mid-May could help improve ties with Washington.
Sharaa also met Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Shafaq News reported.
“Bahrain, among the Arab countries that have reestablished relations with Syria in recent years, continues to support regional efforts to reintegrate Damascus into institutions such as the Arab League. The trip follows a wave of regional outreach by al-Sharaa since taking office, including visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan,” Shafaq noted.
