UK, Bahrain Sign £2 Billion Investment Partnership, Defense Pact

The United Kingdom and Bahrain have signed the Second Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP2), which includes a commitment of £2 billion ($2.7 billion) from Bahrain’s private sector to invest in key UK industries such as financial services, clean energy, manufacturing, technology, and decarbonization. The agreement was signed in London in the presence of Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Bahrain’s finance minister and the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer formalizing the deal. This partnership aligns with the UK's modern Industrial Strategy and aims to foster economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development while reinforcing the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Additionally, the two nations signed a Defense Cooperation Accord to enhance military interoperability and joint training, further strengthening their strategic ties. Discussions during the visit also covered regional security concerns, including the Israel-Iran conflict, and the proposed UK-Gulf Cooperation Council free trade agreement. The UK’s accession to the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) was welcomed as a move to deepen economic and strategic cooperation with Bahrain and the United States.