Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent met with Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa on Apr. 19 to discuss the ongoing partnership between the United States and Bahrain.
The meeting focused on security concerns in the region, particularly regarding attacks by Iran. Minister Al-Khalifa expressed gratitude for what he described as the United States’ steadfast defense of Bahrain against these threats.
Bessent said that the United States aims to deter further assaults by Iran and wants to ensure that energy markets remain stable. He also thanked Al-Khalifa for Bahrain’s cooperation in efforts to address Iranian illicit financing.
The discussion included updates from Bahrain on its work toward developing a digital finance regulatory framework, including measures related to stablecoins. Bessent welcomed these updates as part of broader financial collaboration between the two countries.
The meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement between U.S. officials and partners in the Gulf region amid regional security challenges.
