Manama, 8 September 2021 (TDI): US Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin converged with King Hamad bin Isa of Bahrain on Tuesday to express his gratitude towards Bahrain for assisting the United States’ evacuation efforts in Kabul.
The meeting revolved around the United States’ endorsement for its regional partners, given their support during the Afghanistan crisis. Secretary Austin expressed gratitude to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al- Khalifa for helping the United States evacuate hundreds of American citizens and vulnerable individuals from Kabul. The two further aspired to maintain strong defense relationships in the region.
Following the turmoil in Kabul, Washington seeks support from the Gulf nations to transit American citizens and vulnerable individuals safely from Kabul and build a consensus among its allies when responding to the Taliban takeover.