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 Bahrain |  Thailand |
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The kingdoms of Bahrain and Thailand share bilateral relations, established diplomatically in 1972. Thailand has an embassy in Manama and Bahrain has an embassy in Bangkok.
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Bahrain | Thailand |
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The kingdoms of Bahrain and Thailand share bilateral relations, established diplomatically in 1972. Thailand has an embassy in Manama and Bahrain has an embassy in Bangkok.
Thailand and Bahrain first established relations in 1972, a year following the independence of the Gulf Arab nation from the United Kingdom. Historically, Bahrain and Thailand shared mutual common of historical civilizations developed in both countries. [1] Since 15th century, Arab traders, including those from the Gulf nations, began establishing its foothold in then-Siam, the old name of Thailand, and the link between Thailand to many Arab nations, notably the Gulf where majority came from, including Bahrain, continues to even today. [2]
Since the 1990s, Thailand and Bahrain signed a major framework on economic cooperation, thus effectively making them important economic partners. [3] Today, Thailand is a major investor in Bahrain.
In March 2019, Bahraini Prime Minister and Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, during his participation in the Thai Culture and Food Festival held in capital Manama, praised Thailand and expressed wish to promote the relations. [1]
The latest new business venture between the two countries is a new 6,700-square-metre (72,000 sq ft) Thai shopping centre in Manama, set to launch in the first half of 2019 and described as an opportunity for Thai small and medium-sized enterprises to reach a huge potential market of Saudi shoppers, [4] said to be the biggest economic centre in Bahrain, with import and exports between the two countries expected to be worth around US$400m annually. [5] [6] On November the same year, Thai Mart, Thailand's largest chain store, officially opened its supermarket in Bahrain to boost the relations. [7]
Economic cooperation between Thailand and Bahrain also experienced significant rise, as both are commonly monarchies. [8] Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul had said in 2012 that the relationship between Thailand and Bahrain "was very close and strong" and also disclosed Bahrain Prime Minister was a "close personal friend" of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and had "donated roughly $2 million of his own money" to Thailand for flood relief. [4]
The Al-Khalifa family has a close tie to the Chakri dynasty and members of Bahraini Royal Family frequently tour Thailand for tourist purposes. [4]
In August 2019, Thailand launched its first online health tourism in Bahrain. [9]
Gulf Air operates flights between Bahrain and Bangkok.
In 2013, Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi fled the country, and arrived in Australia after traveling to Thailand, where he was granted refugee status in response to repressive methods by the government on Bahraini protesters and tortures on him. [10] [11] However, in November 2018, Hakeem was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand at the request of Bahraini authorities. [10] [12]
The arrest of Hakeem in Thailand and accusation of Thai economic interests within Bahrain had led to uproar and protest against the Thai authorities over alleged maltreatment over a political refugee. [4] [13] On 11 February 2019, it was announced by the Thai Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) [14] that the extradition case against Al-Araibi had been dropped by the criminal court at Bahrain's request after pressures from Australia, human rights groups like Amnesty International and FIFA. No reason was given by the foreign ministry, but the decision was made under Section 21 of the Prosecution Act, which allows for cases to be dropped if not in the public interest, and he would be released and allowed to return to Australia as soon as possible. [15]
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and a short invasion from the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia, followed by a longer invasion by Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.
Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly relations with most of its neighbours and with the world community. It generally pursues a policy of close consultation with neighbouring states and works to narrow areas of disagreement.
Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa is King of Bahrain since 14 February 2002, after ruling as Emir of Bahrain from 6 March 1999. He is the son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the previous and first emir. The country has been ruled by the Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783.
Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was a Bahraini royal and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain from 10 January 1970 until his death in 2020. He took office over a year before Bahrain's independence on 15 August 1971. He was the longest-serving prime minister in the world. Under the 2002 Constitution he lost some of his powers, with the King now having the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers.
Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. He is also the deputy supreme commander of the Bahrain Defence Force.
Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa is a Bahraini diplomat who served as Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 until January 2020. Khalid became only the second foreign minister in Bahrain's history after replacing Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa who then became Bahrain's deputy prime minister.
Craig Andrew Foster, nicknamed Fozzy or Fozz, is an Australian retired soccer player, human rights activist and sports analyst for the Stan streaming service in Australia. Foster played soccer professionally from 1988 to 2003, including for the national team, the Socceroos, from 1996 to 2000, and was chief soccer analyst for SBS from around 2002 until June 2020. He was the 419th Socceroo, and the 40th captain of the national team.
Al-Shabab Club is a Bahraini football club based in Jidhafs. They share the Bahrain National Stadium with other clubs as their home stadium.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bahrain:
Extremely strong and cordial relations exist between Bahrain and Pakistan. Bahrain maintains an embassy in Islamabad and a Consulate-General in Karachi, whilst Pakistan maintains an embassy in Manama. Both countries are members of the OIC and of the G 77.
Political, socio-economic, military and cultural ties exist between India and Bahrain. India is a close ally of Bahrain. As per Indian officials, the Kingdom along with its GCC partners are amongst the world's most prominent supporters of India's candidacy for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and Bahraini officials have urged India to play a greater role in international affairs. For instance, over concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, Bahrain's Crown Prince requested India to play an active role in resolving the crisis.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa is a Bahraini football administrator. As of 2023 he is Senior Vice-president of the FIFA Council. He has been president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 2 May 2013. Before becoming president of the AFC, he had been president of Bahrain Football Association (2002–13) and also chairman of the AFC Disciplinary Committee and deputy chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
Relations have existed between Bahrain and Israel since Bahrain achieved its independence in 1971. In recent years, relations between the two countries have been thawing, and the countries agreed to establish diplomatic relations in September 2020. The foreign minister of Bahrain Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has been quoted saying "Israel is part of the heritage of this whole region, historically. So, the Jewish people have a place amongst us." The common threat of Iran has provided common ground for a thaw in what were once tense relations. Bahrain's foreign policy traditionally supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Bahrain has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Manama.
Bilateral relations exist between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain. They first began in 1971.
The Bahrain–Philippines relations refer to bilateral relations between the country of Bahrain and the Philippines. The Philippines has an embassy in Manama whilst Bahrain does not have a resident ambassador.
Bilateral relations exist between the countries of Bahrain and Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between the two countries have been strained over various geopolitical issues such as the interpretations of Islam, Awakening of the Islamic world, and relations with the United States, Europe, and other Western countries. In addition, Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain for hosting the United States Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base.
Historic and current bilateral relationship exist between Bahrain and Japan. Diplomatic relations were first established in 1972, and since then they have had increasing economic, cultural, and military cooperation, with Japan becoming one of the major trading partners of Bahrain. Several high-level official visits have taken place, including by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Japan in 2012, Crown Prince Salman in 2013, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Bahrain in 2013, with the governments of both countries expressing their intent to continue to increase their bilateral relations.
Hakeem Ali Mohammed Ali al-Araibi is a Bahraini footballer who plays for St Albans Saints. He played for local club Al-Shabab and in the Bahraini national team before he fled as a dissident and refugee when the team was in Qatar in January 2014. He has played for various teams in Victoria since 2015, and since 2022 has played for St Albans Saints in NPL Victoria. He also holds a permanent position as Community and Human Rights Advocate with Football Victoria. He became an Australian citizen in 2019.
Bahrain-Germany relations have existed since 1972 and are described as "good" by the German Foreign Office. Germany enjoys a good reputation in Bahrain, and the German economy in particular is highly regarded.
Events in the year 2019 in Bahrain.
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