Washington : His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa hosted a reception in Washington, DC, following the Ramadhan iftar. The reception was part of His Majesty’s current visit to the United States to participate in the first meeting of the Board of Peace at the invitation of His Excellency Donald Trump, the President of the US.
The reception was attended by His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Advisor to the US President. Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, senior US administration officials, members of the US Congress, and representatives of countries participating in the first Board of Peace meeting were also present.
His Majesty the King exchanged views during the reception with attendees on the development of longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and their countries. Discussions also addressed the agenda of the first Board of Peace meeting, which aims to advance implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and support reconstruction efforts.
His Majesty delivered the following speech on the occasion:
Your Royal Highnesses,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,
We extend our best wishes to you on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadhan.
It is a pleasure to welcome you on wonderful evening . My sincere thanks to Catherine and Wayne for organizing this gathering, and to all of you for joining us.
The Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States share more than 130 years of friendship, dating back to the establishment of the American Mission Hospital – which continues to be a valued institution in our community. Over 80 years ago, that friendship developed further into a strategic partnership with the establishment of the United States’ oldest continuous military presence in the Middle East—today the proud home of the United States Fifth Fleet.
Our partnership has steadily deepened. Bahrain became the first Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States in the Gulf and
the first in the region to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. We were also among the first signatories of the Abraham Accords and further elevated our
ties through the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement
(C-SIPA). We are honored as well to be the first signatory of the Board of Peace charter established by President Donald Trump, and I am pleased that we are all gathered here inWashington for its first meeting.
We meet at a pivotal moment for the Middle East—one that calls for courage and vision. We stand closer to peace than many thought possible, leadership and boldness have made this progress achievable.
Bahrain has always placed peace, coexistence, and tolerance at the heart of its identity. As our partnership with the United States enters a new chapter, the opportunities before us are immense. Bahrain is resilient and forward – looking — we are not only participating in the digital economy, we are helping to shape it, and we invite you to join us on our journey.
The United States has always been a force for stability and prosperity in our region and around the world. Our partnership is built not merely on shared interests, but on enduring trust, common purpose, and a belief in progress. Together, we have the ability to shape a future defined by security, opportunity, and sustainable growth.
Thank you, and I look forward to welcoming you all soon to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In his remarks, Jared Kushner said he was pleased to attend the reception and to meet His Majesty the King and other distinguished guests. He welcomed His Majesty’s visit to the United States and noted its importance in further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Kushner highlighted His Majesty’s role in supporting efforts to promote peace and reinforce security and stability at both regional and international levels. He also noted the depth of Bahraini-American relations and their continued development across various areas of cooperation in support of shared interests.
Several speakers at the reception also commended Bahraini-American relations and underlined the significance of the first Board of Peace meeting in advancing implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and reconstruction efforts.
