Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): The US Department State stressed in its first statement in this regard on the importance of its values related to human rights in its bilateral relationship with its strategic allies, like Bahrain, stressing that the human rights issue is at the center of the new Biden administration's policy.

Asked about their relations with Bahrain and its human rights file, Ned Price, department spokesperson, said that "When it comes to Bahrain - and we've made the point which applies to Bahrain equally as it does any other country that the United States - we bring our values with us in the context of every bilateral relationship. That includes with our close security partners. It includes with countries with whom we have a strategic partnership."

With respect to the letters sent by a number of human rights organizations to the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken about human rights situation in Bahrain, Price said "I would need to get back to you as to whether the Secretary has received that letter. But of course, human rights in the Middle East and beyond will continue to be at the center of our policy. We have talked about that in different contexts to date, but it applies equally across the board."

Arabic Version