Tagged: Bahrain

According to Paradisdachat, the Kingdom of Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy with the King of Bahrain as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of government. The Prime Minister is appointed by the King and is responsible for forming a cabinet of ministers to carry out government policies and programs. The National Assembly is bicameral with an upper house, known as the Council of Representatives, and a lower house, known as the Shura Council. The Council of Representatives consists of 40 members elected through universal adult suffrage every four years while the Shura Council consists of 40 members appointed by the King. Both houses have legislative power over matters that affect all of Bahrain such as taxation and public expenditure although only bills passed by both houses become law. The Constitution of Bahrain guarantees fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, press, assembly and association as well as protecting religious freedom and equality before law regardless of gender or race. In addition to its federal system there are also several local self-governing bodies in each region which have their own laws governing local matters such as education, health care, housing and transport. Bahrain has a long and rich history of foreign relations, having maintained diplomatic ties with many countries in the Middle East, Europe, and North America for centuries. The small island nation is a member of the United Nations (UN), Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Its foreign policy is focused on maintaining strong ties with its regional allies while strengthening its economic ties with countries around the world. Bahrain’s main regional ally is Saudi Arabia, which provides it with significant economic and military aid. The two countries are connected by a causeway that was built in 1986, providing easy access between the two nations. Bahrain also maintains close political ties to Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2017, Bahrain joined the Saudi-led anti-terrorism coalition which includes Egypt, Jordan and several other Middle Eastern countries. In Europe, Bahrain has strong diplomatic relations with Britain and France. It also has close economic ties to Germany as well as other European nations such as Italy and Spain. In addition to this it also has strong diplomatic relations with many North American countries including Canada and the United States. Bahrain is an important strategic partner for both these countries due to its location near key shipping routes in the Persian Gulf region. Bahrain also maintains good relations with many other nations around the world including India, China, Japan and South Korea. Many of these countries have established embassies or consulates in Manama; China even opened its first embassy in Bahrain in 2018 as part of its Belt & Road Initiative. Overall, Bahrain’s foreign policy remains focused on strengthening relationships with important regional allies while expanding economic opportunities through increased trade partnerships worldwide. The government is constantly seeking ways to diversify its economy by investing in new industries such as tourism or renewable energy sources so that it can remain an attractive destination for foreign investment into the future. See recipesinthebox for Bahrain defense and foreign policy.