The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in Manama on Saturday for Gaza ceasefire hostage release talks, in addition to Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.
Blinken and the Crown discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire of at least six weeks in Gaza as part of an agreement to secure the release of hostages.
In a statement attributed to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller read that Blinken “pledged to continue close coordination with regional and international partners to promote calm during the holy month of Ramadan and prepare for the post-conflict phase.”
Highlighting rising tensions in the Red Sea, “the Secretary and the Crown Prince also discussed the reckless and dangerous Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and reaffirmed their shared commitment to international law and freedom of navigation,” Miller added.
Secretary Blinken commended Bahrain’s contributions to maritime security and praised the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) which strengthens the strategic partnership between Bahrain and the United States.
