CIAO DATE: 08/04

Bahrain

Victoria Garcia

Center for Defense Information

March 2004

Background

In March 1999, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became Bahrain’s king after the death of his father, Sheik Isa bin Hamad Al Khalifa. While Bahrain has historically been a hereditary emirate, Sheik Hamad has supported democratic reforms since taking the throne, including transforming Bahrain to a constitutional monarchy. In 2002, Sheik Hamad proposed holding the first municipal elections since 1957, as well as parliamentary elections to reinstitute a bicameral parliament with a representative lower house.

Although the government has worked to advance human rights and improve citizens’ ability to change their government through more democratic means, the U.S. Department of State notes several problems in the human rights area. While the Constitution calls for an independent judiciary, courts are often subject to government pressure and security forces are rarely tried for abusing their power. The government limits the freedom of speech and of the press; freedoms of assembly and association; and freedom of movement. Violence and discrimination against women is common, as is discrimination based on religion and ethnicity. Forced labor and human trafficking are also problems.

U. S. Military Assistance Prior to Sept. 11, 2001

Bahrain’s annual military expenditure is approximately $440 million which makes up about 20 percent of its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Bahrain’s military forces are comprised of 9,000 active personnel. Bahrain has not participated in the UN Register of Conventional Arms. According to U.S. government data, between 1990 and 2001, Bahrain received approximately $8.7 million in Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) and $1.2 in Foreign Military Sales (FMS). During that same period, Bahrain received $1.5 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET), and $1.5 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The FMF, however, was only disbursed in 1992 and 1993

U. S. Military Assistance Since Sept. 11, 2001

Bahrain is headquarters to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, and provides basing and overflight rights for the U.S. military. Bahraini government officials openly support the U.S. war on terrorism, and have worked to freeze financial accounts related to terrorists and to ensure that charitable donations are not directed to financing terrorists. In Fiscal Year 2002 (FY 02), $395,000 was appropriated to Bahrain in IMET funding, and $28.5 million was granted in FMF through the Supplemental Appropriations request. In FY 03, $448,000 was given to Bahrain in IMET and $90 million was appropriated in FMF through the Supplemental Appropriations request. For FY 04, $600,000 has been allocated for Bahrain in IMET and close to $25 million in FMF. For FY 05, Bahrain has been promised $650,000 in IMET and $20 million in FMF.

Case Study Profile

Country	Bahrain
Government Type	Constitutional Monarchy
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births–2001 estimate)	18.6
Total Armed Forces (2004 estimate)	9,000 active
Military Expenditure (U.S. $, millions)	$440 (FY 03)
Military Expenditure % GDP	20% (FY 03)
Imports/Conventional Arms Transfers (U.S. $, millions – 2001 estimate)	n/a
Human Rights Record 2002	poor in some areas

Bahrain’s Submission to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	n/a

Fiscal Year	IMET	FMF	FSA	ESF	Total
1990	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1991	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1992	$74,000	$1,000,000	$0	$0	$1,074,000
1993	$103,000	$500,000	$0	$0	$603,000
1994	$56,000	$0	$0	$0	$56,000
1995	$75,000	$0	$0	$0	$75,000
1996	$108,000	$0	$0	$0	$108,000
1997	$149,000	$0	$0	$0	$149,000
1998	$251,000	$0	$0	$0	$251,000
1999	$228,000	$0	$0	$0	$228,000
2000	$216,000	$0	$0	$0	$216,000
2001	$249,000	$0	$0	$0	$249,000
2002	$395,000	$0	$0	$0	$395,000
2002 ERF	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
2002 SUP	$0	$28,500,000	$0	$0	$28,500,000
2003	$448,000	$0	$0	$0	$448,000
2003 SUP	$0	$90,000,000	$0	$0	$90,000,000
2004 (request)	$600,000	$24,850,000	$0	$0	$25,450,000
2005 (request)	$650,000	$20,000,000	$0	$0	$20,650,000
Total	$3,602,000	$164,850,000	$0	$0	$168,452,000

Sources

“Background Note: Bahrain,” Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, November 2003.

“Human Development Report,” United Nations, 2002.

“Human Rights Report 2002,” U.S. Department of State, March 31, 2003.

“The World Fact Book,” U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 2003.

“United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,” UN Department for Disarmament Affairs.