NEW DELHI: India and Bahrain’s 5th High Joint Commission (HJC) meeting in New Delhi on Monday marked more than just another round of bilateral discussions. It was a carefully choreographed reaffirmation of mutual trust, strategic depth, and shared responsibility for regional stability, particularly at a time when the Middle East is undergoing profound realignments and India is steadily broadening its role across the Gulf.
Co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, the HJC reflected a maturing partnership, one no longer limited to trade, diaspora, and energy, but now expanding into the decisive domains of space, fintech, and defense cooperation. Dr. Jaishankar’s acknowledgment of Bahrain’s successful hosting of the Manama Dialogue and its upcoming GCC presidency also underscored India’s respect for Bahrain’s diplomatic activism and its bridge role within the Arab world.
With bilateral trade reaching USD 1.64 billion in FY 2024–25, India has firmly positioned itself among Bahrain’s top five trading partners. Yet, what truly stands out is the strategic intent to move beyond traditional sectors like petroleum and metals, toward electronics, processed foods, gems, and digital trade. The push for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) shows that both nations are preparing for an era of structured, long-term economic engagement — one that could insulate their cooperation from global supply shocks and regional volatility.
The planned negotiations on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) will further ease business operations and attract new investments, particularly from small and mid-tier Indian enterprises seeking Gulf exposure. Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and its sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, are poised to be key enablers in sectors ranging from fintech and renewable energy to logistics and healthcare sectors where India’s private ecosystem and Bahrain’s strategic location can yield mutual advantage.
The HJC’s emphasis on defence cooperation marks a subtle but significant geopolitical shift. India and Bahrain now find themselves aligned not only on maritime security but also in counterterrorism and cyber defence. The visit of three Indian naval ships to Bahrain in September 2025 symbolized more than a courtesy call, it was a signal of intent to anchor joint security in the wider Indo-Gulf maritime corridor.
By condemning terrorism in all forms and expressing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam attack, Bahrain has once again demonstrated its alignment with India’s global counterterrorism narrative. Both sides’ resolve to strengthen intelligence sharing and capacity building is an acknowledgment that Gulf-Indian security cooperation is now an integral part of the broader Indo-Pacific architecture.
Perhaps the most forward-looking outcome of the HJC is the emerging partnership in space technology. The forthcoming MoU between Bahrain’s Space Agency and India’s New Space India Limited (NSIL) reflects the Gulf’s growing interest in space cooperation and India’s willingness to act as a technology partner for smaller nations seeking affordable access to satellite solutions.
Equally notable is the expansion of healthcare collaboration from traditional medical aid to digital health, medical value travel, and pharmaceutical innovation. This convergence of digital public goods and health diplomacy mirrors India’s broader approach to South-South cooperation, where technology is treated as a public enabler rather than a geopolitical tool.
The human dimension of India–Bahrain relations remains a quiet but enduring pillar. India’s gratitude for King Hamad’s pardon of 248 Indian nationals over the past two years and the introduction of an electronic visa system for Bahraini citizens reflect the steady institutionalization of people-to-people connectivity. The commitment to celebrate 55 years of diplomatic ties in 2026 through expanded exchanges in art, music, and literature reinforces the relationship’s soft-power foundation.
The timing of the HJC is geopolitically significant. With Bahrain preparing to assume the GCC presidency and holding a forthcoming seat on the UN Security Council (2026–27), its diplomatic footprint is expanding. India’s warm endorsement of Bahrain’s role at the UN and its coordination on multilateral positions reflect growing trust and convergence in the Global South’s voice on peace, reform, and development.
Both nations also expressed cautious optimism about the Gaza peace process, supporting full implementation of President Trump’s peace plan to stabilize the region. This alignment underscores a shared understanding that sustainable peace in the Middle East will require inclusive diplomacy, economic interdependence, and credible leadership from regional actors.
The 5th India–Bahrain High Joint Commission meeting was more than a diplomatic milestone; it was a policy recalibration. It revealed how both nations are synchronizing their strategic interests from maritime security and energy diversification to technology and trade resilience in response to an evolving global order.
By expanding their engagement into new sectors like space and fintech and grounding it in shared security and humanitarian values, India and Bahrain are demonstrating how medium-sized powers can redefine partnership models in the Global South pragmatic, inclusive, and forward-looking.
As the two sides prepare for the 6th HJC in Bahrain, the message from New Delhi is clear: India and Bahrain are not just celebrating 55 years of diplomacy, they are building the architecture for the next fifty.
— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui | Follow on X @shahidsiddiqui
