Trump: Ties with Bahrain won’t be strained anymore
US president praises Sisi, hopes to visit Egypt
US President Donald Trump said yesterday Washington’s relations with Bahrain were set to improve, after meeting with the king of the Gulf Arab state during a visit to Saudi Arabia. “Our countries have a wonderful relationship together, but there has been a little strain, but there won’t be strain with this administration,” Trump said during a photo session with Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa in Riyadh. “We’re going to have a very, very long-term relationship. I look forward to it very much - many of the same things in common.”
Trump’s White House decided this year to pursue a $5 billion sale to Bahrain of 19 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft and related equipment, which was held up last year by human rights concerns.
Separately, Trump said yesterday he hoped to visit Cairo soon, praising President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi after a meeting in Saudi Arabia and declaring that “safety seems to be very strong” in Egypt. Speaking through a translator, Sisi described Trump as “a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible”. “I agree!” the billionaire president responded as everyone laughed. Trump even complimented Sisi on his footwear, saying: “Love your shoes. Boy, those shoes. Man...”
Trump said he was having “very, very important talks” with Sisi. “We’ve really been through a lot together positively,” said Trump, who is on his first foreign visit since taking office. “I will get to Egypt. We will absolutely be putting that on the list very soon,” he said. Sisi had “done a tremendous job under trying circumstance”.