Bahrain–Turkey relations

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Bahrain–Turkey relations
Map indicating locations of Bahrain and Turkey

Bahrain
Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Bahrain, AnkaraEmbassy of Turkey, Manama
Envoy
Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf Al-Abdullah[1]Ambassador Esin Çakıl[2]

Foreign

relations exist between Bahrain and Turkey. Turkey's historic relationship with Bahrain has wavered between indifference and courtship, but the constant has been a layer of mistrust emanating from both ends that appears to have been set aside in 2002[3] when the new Turkish government reversed the status quo and embraced a policy of engagement that has successfully catapulted the country to becoming a leading economic player in the Bahrain.[4]

Turkey opened its Embassy in Bahrain in 1990, while the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Ankara has been in operation since 2008.[5]

Diplomatic Visits

Guest Host Place of visit Date of visit
Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad bin Mohammad Al-Khalifa
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
 Presidential Complex, Ankara August 25-28, 2016[5]
Bahrain King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Presidential Complex, Ankara March 25, 2016[5]
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Bahrain King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Al-Sakhir Palace, Sakhir February 12-13, 2017[5]
Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad bin Mohammad Al-Khalifa
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
OIC Extraordinary Summit on Al-Quds, Istanbul
 May 18, 2018[5]

Economic and Trade Relations

Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations (in million USD)[6]
2015 2016 2017 2018
Export 225 193 227 299
Import 104 128 187 187
Volume 329 321 414 486
Balance 121 65 40 112

Turkey mainly exports tobacco and its products, iron and steel, motor vehicles and their parts to Bahrain. On the other hand, Bahrain mainly exports aluminium, iron, petroleum products (except for petroleum and its derivatives) chemical fertilizers, cotton products to Turkey.[7] Trade volume between the two countries was 486 million USD in 2018 (Turkish exports/imports: 299/187 million USD).[8]

Cultural Relations

Turkish television drama have become massively popular across in Bahrain, as millions of Arabs stop everything daily to view the latest episode of shows such as Hareem Al Sultan and Fatima, going a long way to promote a positive image of Turkey in Bahrain.[9]

Turkish-Bahraini Business Council

The Turkish-Bahraini Business Council was established based on the agreement signed by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) on 16 February 2006 in Istanbul. The first joint meeting of the board of directors of the Council was convened on the same day, whereas the last meeting of the Council was held on 1 March 2017 in Ankara, just before the JEC meeting (held on 2-3 March 2017).[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain.
  2. ^ "Republic of Turkey Turkish Embassy in Manama". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  3. ^ Ehteshami, A., & Elik, S. (2011). Turkey's Growing Relations with Iran and the Arab Middle East. Turkish Studies, 12(4, Winter), 643–662.
  4. ^ Tim Reid (August 29, 2012). "Turkey's eastern trading bet pays off". Financial Times.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Bilateral Political Relations between Turkey and Bahrain". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  6. ^ Sourced from TurkStat by Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  7. ^ a b "Turkey-Bahrain Economic and Trade Relations, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 2011-06-08.
  8. ^ "Turkey-Bahrain Economic and Trade Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  9. ^ David Rohde (March 9, 2012). "The Islamic World's Culture War, Played Out on TV Soap Operas". The Atlantic.
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