ASEAN, Bahrain partnership maturing through Treaty of Amity and Cooperation

By Habib Toumi

Manama: What does in an international treaty with ten countries mean? A lot. stronger relations, common approaches, closer strategic dimensions, mutual benefits and support at various levels and lucrative economic deals, to cite just a few.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) signed by Bahrain on Saturday with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an embodiment of the vision of Bahrain to consolidate cooperation with all countries, encourage dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, support all efforts to promote regional and international security and peace, and focus on developing relations and cooperation with the Asian continent in general, and with ASEAN in particular.

ASEAN was founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It later expanded to include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, growing into a 10-member bloc with a combined population of 650 million and huge promises for the future.

Bahrain’s ties with ASEAN countries started shrtly after the core nations formed it after both parties realized the significance of establishing mutually beneficial relations.

Malaysia started in 1974, followed by Thailand in 1977, the Philippines in 1978, Indonesia in 1984, Singapore in 1985, Brunei Darussalam in 1988, Vietnam in 1995, Laos in 2002, and Cambodia in 2009.

In Manama in 2009, the foreign ministers of ASEAN countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) adopted the GCC-ASEAN Joint Vision. In 2013, the third GCC-ASEAN meeting took place in the Bahraini capital.

Now, Bahrain and the ASEAN are taking their relations to a higher level following the signing of the TAC. Manama is the third Arab capital to take such a step, following Cairo and Rabat.

This step has many strategic implications. The treaty is a gateway to the Southeast Asian region that contributes significantly to the development of the Bahrain, ASEAN relations, in accordance with the keenness of all parties to strengthen them at various levels.

The treaty will increase trade exchanges, boost investment opportunities and create joint ventures with positive results for all sides, especially that overall trade between Bahrain and ASEAN countries has increased significantly in recent years.

For Bahrain, ASEAN countries are an important source of primary resources of foods, commodities and labor. Their values have invariably been common with the one cherished by Bahrain, mainly seeking peace and cooperation, mutual respect, non-interference in the affairs of other countries, and rejecting extremism, terrorism and fanaticism.

Bahrain is seen as an attractive investment option with great benefits and a safe consumer market and a hub for economic expansion in the Arabian Gulf and the greater Middle East.

At the human level, People-to-people contacts and close relationships and partnerships, mainly through tourism, joint ventures and migrant labor, have also boosted Bahrain’s ties with ASEAN countries.

Overall, ASEAN is one of the most successful models internationally, holds a great economic importance and wields significant influence. It is one of the largest producers of raw materials globally, and has the third largest labor force in the world, especially in light of the large population, which makes it able to attract foreign investment.

ASEAN, at the center of an increasingly dynamic region, also has significant natural assets with fertile and arable land and an important energy reserve of petroleum and natural gas.

Bahrain, the island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf, has been known for decades for its policy of mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the rejection of threats and cooperation with all for the sake of peace and security has successfully built a wide network of friendships and partnerships both in the East and the West.

The TAC, with its principles on promoting and sustaining regional peace and stability and its focus on the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, is in line with Bahrain’s policies.

By signing the TAC, Bahrain is now a member of the 40 parties to the Treaty that include the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.