Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly relations with most of its neighbors and with the world community. It generally pursues a policy of close consultation with neighboring states and works to narrow areas of disagreement. Flag of the League of Arab States The Arab League or League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية), is an organization of Arab states (compare Arab world). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

Bahrain is a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), established on May 26, 1981 with five other Gulf states. The country has fully complied with steps taken by the GCC to coordinate economic development and defense and security planning. In December 1994, it concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel. In many instances, it has established special bilateral trade agreements. Member states  Bahrain  Kuwait  Oman  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  United Arab Emirates The Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (Arabic: مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية), formerly named Gulf Cooperation Council (مجلس التعاون الخليجي) is a regional organization involving the six Persian Gulf Arab States with the many economic and social objectives in mind. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

During the Gulf War, the island was used as a base for military operations in the Gulf. Bahraini, RAF, and USAF pilots flew air strikes in Iraq from the Sheik Isa Air Base, while coalition navies operated out of Manama, the capital. Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces. ... Sheik Isa Air Base (Shaikh-Isa Air Base) is located on the 665 km² island nation of Bahrain, situated off Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast. ... Manama from space, June 1996 Manama (Arabic: المنامة Al-Manāmah) is the capital city of Bahrain and is the countrys largest city with a population of approximately 155,000, roughly a quarter of countrys entire population. ...

Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the Iranian revolution and the 1981 discovery of a planned Iran-sponsored coup in Bahrain. Bahraini suspicions of the Iranian role in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain. However, with the decline of Iraq as a regional powerbroker, Bahrain has begun taking steps to improve relations with Iran and increase regional harmony. These efforts have included encouraging Bahrain-Iran trade. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... After Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran in 1979, Tehran made clear its intention to spread its Islamic Revolution throughout the Middle East. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ...

The long standing territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary were resolved in 2001 by a compromise decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Hawar Islands are a group of islands situated between Qatar and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. ... Peace Palace, seat of the ICJ. The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. ...

After the Gulf War, Bahrain and the United States strengthened their already good ties by signing a ten-year agreement in October 1991, which granted American forces access to Bahraini facilities and allowed the U.S. to pre-position war material for future crises. In July 1995 the U.S. 5th Fleet was established in the Persian Gulf with its headquarters at NSA Bahrain in Manama. In 2003, U.S. President George W. Bush designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally. The 5th Fleet of the United States Navy maintains a visible deterrent force in the Persian Gulf area. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ... The presidential seal was first used by president Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have strong strategic working relationships with American forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ...

References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2000
• This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2003