- King Hamad and Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as Bahrain hosted the ninth GCC Russia Strategic Dialogue
- Manama is seeking closer diplomatic coordination with Moscow on regional de-escalation, maritime security and issues before the UN Security Council
- Lavrov used the meeting to promote Russia’s collective security concept for the Gulf, centred on dialogue among the region’s littoral states
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manama on Oct 18, discussing regional security, the protection of vital waterways and trade routes, and opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation. Lavrov was visiting Bahrain for the ninth ministerial meeting of the GCC Russia Strategic Dialogue, held alongside the GCC Ministerial Council session. The King and the Russian foreign minister exchanged views on regional and international developments, while stressing the importance of diplomatic coordination in support of stability and peace. The timing placed maritime security at the centre of the discussions, as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains exposed to disruption amid the wider regional conflict.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani also held separate talks with Lavrov, focusing on regional developments, international efforts to halt escalation and the preservation of security and stability. The two sides discussed closer consultation between Bahrain and Russia at the UN Security Council, where Bahrain holds a non permanent seat for the 2026 to 2027 term and Russia is a permanent member. This gives Manama an additional diplomatic channel at a time when Gulf states are seeking more effective international pressure to protect shipping and prevent further escalation. Bahrain’s engagement with Moscow is particularly relevant because Russia retains direct political communication with Iran and can serve as a channel for conveying GCC concerns over maritime security.
Lavrov used the wider GCC Russia meeting to promote Moscow’s updated Concept for Collective Security in the Persian Gulf. The Russian proposal calls for the Gulf’s littoral states to play the decisive role in designing regional security arrangements, through direct dialogue with neighbouring states and with possible involvement from the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Lavrov also argued that economic cooperation with the GCC depends on regional stability, noting that Russia’s trade with GCC countries rose by 45% in 2025. His description of the conflict as resulting from US and Israeli aggression against Iran reflects Moscow’s position and should not be treated as an agreed GCC assessment. The important point for Bahrain is not that it has endorsed a Russian security architecture. Rather, Manama is using Russia’s access to Tehran and its Security Council role to press for de-escalation and the restoration of safe navigation. The GCC’s own position remains focused on freedom of navigation and international law, making its immediate concern the protection of trade and energy flows rather than a wholesale redesign of Gulf security.