WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2025 – President Donald Trump welcomed Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the White House today, where they announced a series of investment deals totaling over $17 billion, aimed at strengthening economic ties and addressing regional security concerns.
The centerpiece of the agreements includes a $7 billion deal for Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, to purchase 12 Boeing aircraft and 40 General Electric engines, with options for additional aircraft. This transaction is expected to support approximately 30,000 American jobs, according to a White House official. The deals also encompass investments in U.S. energy, technology, and manufacturing sectors, including plans to replace Chinese servers with Cisco products and increase domestic aluminum production.
This meeting marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to deepen the U.S.-Bahrain relationship, following a recent nuclear cooperation agreement signed between the two nations. The agreement is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to enhance global energy security and solidify alliances in the Gulf region.
Bahrain, a key security partner of the United States and host to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, driven by shared concerns over Iran. The discussions today also touched on Iran’s nuclear program, with the U.S. and three major European countries setting an end-of-August deadline for Iran to resume nuclear talks.
President Trump emphasized the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Bahrain, dating back to 1893 and formally since 1948, highlighting the “tremendous relationship” and Bahrain’s role as a “fantastic ally.” The Crown Prince expressed honor in being at the White House to “put into action the relationship that exists between our two countries,” and announced the $17 billion in deals as “real, not fake.”
This announcement comes on the heels of Trump’s May 2025 trip to the Middle East, where he secured a $600-billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia, further demonstrating his administration’s focus on fostering economic partnerships with Gulf states. Despite Bahrain’s exports facing a 10% baseline tariff under Trump’s trade policies, they have been spared larger levies imposed on other countries, reflecting a nuanced approach to economic relations.
The White House stated that Bahrain’s King will visit Washington later this year to finalize these agreements, solidifying the progress made in building economic prosperity between the two nations. Today’s meeting underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to boost the U.S. economy and enhance regional stability.