Bahrain to host three-day dialogue where regional security will top the agenda

A major policy forum will convene in Bahrain this weekend to discuss responses in the Arabian Gulf to perceived security threats amid uncertainty among traditional US allies about Washington’s reliability.

Officials from the UAE, Saudi

Arabia, the US, China, France and other nations will attend the three-day Manama Dialogue, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The annual meeting opens on Friday. Bahrain is seeking to expand its profile as an international hub and highlight what it regards as threats from Iran.

At last year’s gathering, US officials said Iran’s proxy militias must leave Syria and affirmed their commitment to the Middle East Strategic Alliance, proposed by Washington.

Iran has since entrenched its proxies across Syria and Mesa – which was supposed to include GCC nations, Jordan and Egypt – did not materialise.

Emile Hokayem, senior fellow for Middle East security at the institute, said although Syria had fallen off the radar in Arab and western capitals, the conflict was not over and stabilisation needed to be pursued.

“I think Syria is important. Let us see what the ministers and other officials say,” Mr Hokayem told The National.

Senior US officials are expected in Manama, where they will try to assuage fears about Washington’s perceived withdrawal from the Middle East.

A possible turning point in the region since last year’s meeting was the September 14 attack claimed by the Iranbacked Houthi rebels on Saudi Aramco’s oil infrastructure.

Although the US says it sent up to 3,000 more troops to the Middle East after the attack, the response has not been seen in the region as robust.