Bahrain’s King departs Riyadh, greeted by Riyadh governor at airport

On Tuesday, Bahrain's King Hamad met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. The Crown Prince welcomed King Hamad at King Khalid International Airport, which had recently been targeted by Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. During their discussions, King Hamad commended Saudi Arabia for its "benevolent efforts" in establishing a "joint action system" for the Gulf. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia's "pivotal role in consolidating the foundations of security, peace, and stability" in the region.

King Mohammed expressed his wish to strengthen the "close fraternal ties" between the two countries. They also deliberated on regional developments and efforts to bolster security and stability, particularly in the wake of a concerted Middle Eastern initiative to prevent the Iran war from escalating further.

Following the meeting, King Hamad's cabinet denounced the ongoing "terrorist attacks" by Houthi forces on Saudi Arabia. The visit to Saudi Arabia by foreign leaders had been limited since the resumption of hostilities in Yemen. A summit of EU and Gulf leaders had been postponed, as had the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.

Notably, Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi and Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara met with Crown Prince Mohammed in the past month, while French President Emmanuel Macron was the first Western leader to visit since the fighting resumed.