President Donald Trump met with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the White House on July 16, where the two countries discussed trade, Iran and regional security issues and finalized investment agreements totaling more than $17 billion.

A major part of the deals includes a $7 billion contract involving Gulf Air, Boeing, and General Electric for the purchase of 12 aircraft and 40 GE engines, with an option for six more planes. The deal is expected to support about 30,000 American jobs.

In technology, Bahrain plans to partner with U.S. companies Oracle and Cisco to replace Chinese-made servers and improve digital infrastructure. The agreement also includes plans for an 800-kilometer submarine fiber-optic cable to link Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq to global networks, enhancing communication and data exchange.

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, committed $2 billion to U.S. downstream aluminum projects aimed at job creation and industrial growth. Private Bahraini firms also pledged $10.7 billion in investments across various U.S. sectors.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to explore civilian nuclear cooperation, focusing on nonmilitary nuclear energy development to support global energy security.

These agreements build on a 2023 security and economic pact between the U.S. and Bahrain. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. 

Bahrain’s king is expected to visit Washington later this year to finalize these agreements and strengthen the economic relationship.