The United States (US) President Donald Trump had the honour of hosting the Prime Minister of Qatar for an exclusive dinner engagement and held discussions with the Crown Prince of Bahrain at the White House on July 16, 2025. This was part of concerted efforts by the US to address regional concerns and foster diplomatic relations with the Gulf region. The meeting underlines President Trump’s second-term foreign policy focused on the Gulf region through defence diplomacy, energy investments, and regional mediation.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation with Bahrain
The meeting with Crown Prince Salman culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Civil Nuclear Cooperation (NCMOU). It was facilitated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. This NCMOU signifies an important advancement toward establishing a resilient civil nuclear partnership between the United States and Bahrain, with the objectives of enhancing energy security, fostering mutual prosperity through increased economic collaboration, and upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and non-proliferation.
The NCMOU marks Bahrain’s entry into a dialogue for peaceful nuclear energy development under the US FIRST (Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology) programme. The agreement lays the groundwork for a potential Section 123 Agreement—required by US law for nuclear commerce—and reflects Bahrain’s ambition to diversify its civil nuclear energy using US private sector innovations.
Beyond nuclear cooperation, the Crown Prince announced Bahrain’s intention to invest $17 billion in US projects, including a $7 billion aviation deal for Gulf Air to purchase Boeing aircraft and GE engines, IT partnerships with Oracle and Cisco, projects in AI (artificial intelligence) chips, liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, and aluminium manufacturing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the deal would help create more than 30,000 US jobs and strengthen energy security.
Meeting with Qatari Counterpart
Later that evening, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari Prime Minister and a member of the country’s ruling family, joined President Trump for a private dinner focusing on Middle East peace and economic diplomacy.
The leaders revisited the $243.5 billion investment package unveiled during Trump’s May visit to Doha, which includes Qatar Airways’ purchase of 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines worth $96 billion, acquisitions of US drone and anti-drone technologies, and major stakes in US energy infrastructure.
Significance of the Meeting
In summary, these diplomatic engagements indicate a significant reassessment of the United States’ strategic approach towards the Gulf region. This surge in diplomatic activity also serves to enhance the existing relationships the United States maintains within the region, including substantial investment commitments from Saudi Arabia and AI collaborations with the United Arab Emirates. Secretary Rubio underscored that these agreements not only strengthen bilateral relationships but also create opportunities for multilateral collaboration through the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA).
Trump is expected to host Bahrain’s King later this year to finalise nuclear negotiations.
