France-Bahrain Defence Pact Accentuate Western Alignment in Middle East

Paris, France / New Delhi: France and Bahrain have signed a  bilateral defence cooperation agreement that includes strategic information sharing and closer military and industrial cooperation. 

The agreement, formalised on February 6 at the Élysée Palace, was signed by France’s Minister Delegate to the Armed Forces Alice Rufo and Bahrain’s National Security Adviser Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, under the watch of French President Emmanuel Macron and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

 Macron described the pact as one that “will also open up new opportunities for industrial cooperation in defence, and strengthen solidarity between our two countries in a global and regional geopolitical context marked by increasing tensions.” 

King Hamad assured Paris’s sentiments, emphasising the long-standing partnership between Manama and Paris and Bahrain’s commitment to regional stability, framing the agreement as a continuation of mutual trust and defense collaboration. 

The deal comes against a backdrop of intensified U.S. and Israeli efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear program.

In June 2025, Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were aimed at crippling Tehran’s ability to produce weapons-grade material and “shatter the foundations” of Tehran’s strategic capabilities, cited by Reuters. Such campaigns, backed diplomatically and militarily by Washington, reflect a broader strategy to isolate Iran and compel it to halt nuclear advancements. 

While the West presses Tehran on its nuclear agenda, diplomatic efforts continue. Recent USA–Iran indirect nuclear talks in Muscat were described as a “good start,” but remain fragile, underscoring the complexity of the issue. Both Tehran and Washington walked away from the latest round with cautious optimism, yet deep disagreements persist over inspections and enrichment limits. 

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also underscored Paris’s position that escalation must be avoided and that a multi-lateral diplomatic push including an upcoming France-hosted conference remains vital.