Quoting report he said the region categorised as the least affected in economic risks by the World Bank. “It also scored third in terms of geopolitical trade level worldwide. The region still contains about 55% of the world oil reserves, and 40% of natural gas,” Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Ghaffar told the round-table opened held entitled “External Factors Influencing British-Bahraini Relations: prospects for trans-regional cooperation.”
Organized by the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (BCSISE), in cooperation with Royal United Services Institute UK (RUSI), held in Bahrain and attended by over 100 invited guests.
During the opening ceremony, the Advisor to His Majesty the King for Diplomatic Affairs and BCSISE President Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Ghaffar delivered the following speech:
“The Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies in cooperation with the Royal United Services Institute UK (RUSI) is pleased to mark the beginning of cooperation between both institutes with the organization of this roundtable.
We are particularly keen on establishing cooperation in view of RUSI’s focus on defense and security and in view of its reputation as a globally respected think tank set up as far back as 1831 by Duke Wellington.
“The primary goal for our roundtable entitled: “External Factors Influencing British-Bahraini Relations: prospects for trans-regional co-operation” is to provide a forum for in-depth discussions and careful analyses of issues relating to Bahraini-British relations; especially in the areas of security and defense.
“In addition, it will look in more detail at the causes of strategic regional transformation that might lead to changes in a significant part of the map of the Arab world, and to look at the impact of the mounting role of other regions such as: the far East and Southeast Asia in trade, economy and Gulf security.
The bilateral relations between Britain and Bahrain have developed within a framework of historic relations between the United Kingdom and the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council states dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1820, Britain concluded a historic treaty with the rulers of the region to in the pursuit of ‘maritime peace’ and to regulate the maritime and trade movement. The treaty opened the venue for Britain to become an influential force impacting issues relating to Gulf security.
“From the late nineteenth century, Bahrain has assumed a pioneering position in maritime and trade activity in the region. At that time, the United Kingdom supported the reform and modernization movement initiated by Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa, ruler of Bahrain, despite some differences of opinion between them on implementing modernization patterns that would not affect Bahrain’s sovereignty.
“Historical circumstances in the early twentieth century and the ensuing regional and international changes enabled the creation of a positive and enabling environment to implement further reform and modernization that marked a turning point in the history of modern Bahrain. The country has, thereafter, witnessed progressive modernization and reform.
“It can be argued that the wheel of reform reached its peak during the reign of his Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who recognized the positive impact of modernization and change in the history of Bahrain since the end of the nineteenth century. Thus King Hamad launched his reform project in order to consolidate the civil state structure and enhanced the role of democratic institutions as pillars for a constitutional monarchy that comply with the needs of Bahrain in the early twenty-first century. The Reform project took into consideration the need for a carefully calculated and gradual reform process that observed the requisites for political development in other GCC States.
“Along with the new reform process, relations between Bahrain and Britain were characterized by general consent on the overall strategy of cooperation in Bahrain and the Gulf region security; with occasional differences in opinions. Such differences are not surprising, as critical phases in the history of nations are subject to overwhelming changes that can impact relations between states.
“During phases of transition differences in opinion must be considered, as the outcomes of transformation cannot be considered as soft variables but as impetuous and turbulent that requires the contribution of wise statesmanship and prudence.
“In this respect, it is worth citing Mark Sykes (1879-1919), a senior official in the British Conservative Party who was most experienced in Turkish affairs and whose name was associated with the famous Sykes-Picot Agreement, when he said in the House of Commons in early 1914, “the collapse of the Ottoman Empire would be the first step towards the disappearance of our own”. This was not merely a comment made by a prominent politician concerned about the interests of his country, but rather voiced a prevailing conviction of many British officials such as: George Canning (1770-1827), Arthur Wesley Duke of Wellington (1869-1853), Lord Palmerston (1784-1865), Benjamin Disraeli (1852-1928), and other politicians who believed that the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire was crucial for Britain and Europe as a geo-political security buffer. Yet, the significant developments at the outbreak of the First World War forced Britain to change its policy of maintaining the integrity of the Ottoman territories over the past 100 years, within less than 100 days.
“Taking such a historical perspective into consideration, politicians in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf are concerned that political pressures emanating from current events in the region may overshadow the recent developments in the region. In addition, radical reactions caused by short-sightedness may negatively affect historical ties and common interests. And thus it has become necessary to arrange meetings between politicians and diplomats to discuss such concerns in light of the general transformation the region is going through.
“Relations between Bahrain and the United Kingdom have been established on the basis of general cooperation in curbing common threats in the Arabian Gulf. The current escalation of political and economic events in the world suggests a need to strengthen dialogue and to consolidate cooperation between think tanks and research institutions. Discussion of regional and international developments in a scholarly and intellectual environment, beyond formal venues, is necessary to generate new visions to support the decision makers.
“The new perspectives for the future must be based on understanding the nature of changes that have occurred since the conclusion of the Cooperation and Friendship Agreement between Britain and Bahrain in 1971 as well as achievements made in cooperation and coordination between countries of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council since its establishment in 1981. Based on the success in developing areas of human development and in building national cadres in political, economic and social fields, well measured steps are heading towards the formation of a union between these countries. This is evident in the successful utilization of human potential in the management of capital and the ability of these states to address threats to regional security during the past four decades.
“The GCC States have consolidated their cooperation and have become regionally well established. Thus, the bilateral relations between Bahrain and Britain must be viewed within its regional context, through which Bahrain’s forms an integral part of the GCC that produces more than 30 percent of the world’s oil needs and 14 percent of world gas production. Recent studies in the field of energy expect world demand for oil to double some 50 per cent by 2030. Moreover, the World Bank statistics for 2011, show that the economic structure of the GCC countries were least affected by the financial crisis among main regional economies of the world. Oil revenues enabled these countries to overcome this crisis without major losses as experienced by the European and Asian markets.
“In terms of trade with Britain, the GCC is the seventh largest importer of British goods, about 15 billion pounds; this figure exceeded the United Kingdom’s exports to India and China together. In 2010, Bahrain’s total trade value with the United Kingdom reached some $337 million.
“In addition, the close historical ties between Britain and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the secure investment climate in the region encouraged some 160,000 British nationals to reside and work in GCC countries. GCC investments in the United Kingdom are valued at approximately $2.25 billion in real estate markets, banking and infrastructure projects.
“The GCC States have made great progress in the area of integration of security and military cooperation through incorporating the concept of ‘joint Gulf defense’. This idea was embodied in the Manama Summit in 2000, which endorsed a joint defense treaty committing the GCC countries to defend any member state against a threat or danger. In the light of this agreement, military cooperation made major steps based on a clear foundation, and that took into account existing potentials and defense requirements, and the size and sources of threat. In their last meeting, the GCC States agreed upon establishing a regional joint military maritime centre with multiple responsibilities regarding the security of the sea and the marine environment, to secure free navigation and traffic, rescue ships, and dealing with disasters and matters related to Gulf security.
“We, at the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies, hope, through taking this first step in cultural and intellectual cooperation with the Royal United Services Institute, to organize more events and invite prominent speakers from the Arabian Gulf Area, who received their education in the world’s outstanding universities and have become remarkable contributors in strategic studies and international politics. This new elite of intellectuals from the GCC States are different from the previous generation at the cultural and educational levels with whom Britain dealt with during the early stages of the formation of modern Gulf states. They have strong desire to achieve new perspectives for cooperation and coordination to encounter recent common threats that may arise in the foreseeable future.
“After an era of imperial superiority, Europe now deals with a more pluralistic, competitive world in which regional entities in East Asia and Southeast Asia competes in trade and plays a significant economic role.
“The size of trade exchange between China and the GCC States last year was 93 billion dollars, and approximately 106 billion dollars with India and more than 172 billion dollars with Japan. Undoubtedly, the ever growing trade movement will pave the way for more political and economic cooperation between the main powers in Asia such as India, China and Russia and the Arabian Gulf States. In the future, these powers may aspire to exercise a more effective and influential political role in the affairs of the region and to secure a role with regard to security and defense issues.
“Despite the growing role of these regional powers; it must be admitted that they still face substantial hurdles in the development of their relations with the Arab Gulf bloc because they have not been able to secure a cultural presence, and therefore need to strengthen relations with the peoples of the region rather than simply promote trade. Japan for example is a clear cut case for the sophisticated model of industrial production and trade exchange. Yet, it did not make similar and strong efforts to consolidate its cultural and scientific presence; which is an integral factor to its strategic presence. The same principle applies, but with different proportions to China, India and Russia.
“In contrast, the current foreign policies of the GCC States have shown an active interest in remedying previous shortcomings in cultural communication with these states that represent impressive and ancient civilizations with a long history of communication with the peoples of the region.
“Yet, despite the increased competition, and the acceleration of the course of political events, the British role continues to play a significant role in the security of the Arabian Gulf. This is due to the historical ties and the joint interests and mutual confidence between the United Kingdom and GCC States, mainly in geo-strategic issues. Recent events in the region demonstrated the need to deepen this important role, through dialogue and joint studies to come up with new visions in the face of threats to our stability and common security.”