This article covers the diplomatic relationship between India and Bahrain: its historical roots, the establishment of relations, high-level and ministerial visits, recent calls and meetings, and the institutional mechanisms and general agreements between the two governments. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.

Overview

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and Bahrain enjoy "excellent bilateral relations characterized by cordial political, economic, cultural and people to people contacts". The brief describes the presence of Indian nationals in Bahrain as an important anchor of the relationship.

The brief states that, for India, Bahrain is an important country in the GCC region because of its geo-strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz, the presence of the US 5th fleet (NAVCENT) and the headquarters of the US-led Combined Maritime Forces. It says this makes Bahrain a key country in ensuring India's maritime, energy and trade security in the region.

History and establishment of relations

The brief traces bilateral trade and commercial exchanges back about 5,000 years, to the period of the Dilmun Civilization in Bahrain and the Indus valley civilization. Diplomatic relations were established on 12 October 1971.

High-level visits

Visits to India from Bahrain listed in the brief include:

  • Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the late Amir of Bahrain, in April 1981 and 1983
  • Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, the late Prime Minister, in January 2004
  • Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, on an official visit to Delhi from 19-22 March 2007, and to Kerala from 17-18 March 2013
  • Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King, in February 2014, on his first state visit

The King's delegation in February 2014 included members of the Royal family, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Speakers of the House of Representatives and the Shura Council, key Cabinet Ministers and around 130-member business delegation.

Visits from India to Bahrain include those of President Shri Giani Zail Singh in 1983 and Vice President Shri Krishnakant in March 1999, the latter to offer condolences on the demise of the Amir, Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa. Speaker of Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla visited from 9-15 March 2023 to attend the 146th IPU.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid a State visit to Bahrain on 24-25 August 2019. The brief records this as the first-ever state visit by an Indian Prime Minister. HM the King bestowed the Bahrain Order - First Class on the Prime Minister.

Ministerial visits

Bahraini Foreign Ministers have visited India on several occasions:

  • Former Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa visited in March 2011, and again from 21-23 February 2015 for the first High Joint Commission meeting, when he called on the Prime Minister.
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani visited from 6-8 April 2021 for the third High Joint Commission meeting and called on the Vice President of India.
  • FM Zayani visited on 3 November 2025 for the fifth High Joint Commission meeting.

EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Bahrain on 24-25 November 2020 to convey condolences on the demise of the late Bahraini PM Prince Khalifa. He called on HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and met the Bahraini Foreign Minister and the Deputy PM.

EAM visited Bahrain again on 7-9 December 2024. He took part in the Concluding Plenary Session, "Whither Regional Strategic Cooperation", of the 20th edition of the IISS Manama Dialogue 2024, and co-chaired the 4th ministerial meeting of the High Joint Commission. EAM visited Bahrain again on 6-7 July 2026, when he had an audience with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and held talks with Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan made his first official visit to Bahrain from 30 August to 01 September 2021, calling on HM the King Hamad and the CP/PM and meeting the Foreign Minister and the Labour Minister. On his second visit, on 04-05 May 2023, he met the Ministers of Labour, Social Development, and Finance and National Economy, the President of BACA (Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities), and held official talks with the Undersecretary (Political Affairs) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Calls and meetings at summits

The brief records a series of meetings on the sidelines of international events and telephone conversations:

  • PM met FM Zayani on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on 23 August 2023, a meeting at which the greetings of HM the King and HRH the CP/PM on the landing of Chandrayaan-3 were conveyed.
  • On 01 December 2023, on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP) Summit in Dubai, PM met HM the King.
  • EAM met FM Zayani in September 2023 during the 78th UNGA in New York, in January 2024 at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, and on 09 September 2024 in Riyadh at the India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue.
  • EAM spoke to FM Zayani on 15 November 2025 to follow up on the outcomes of the 5th HJC.

On 28 February 2026, EAM spoke to FM Zayani about the turn of events in the region and expressed concern at the escalating developments. The brief records that the Bahraini Foreign Minister assured EAM that his Government would take all measures to keep the Indian community safe.

On 02 March 2026 and 20 March 2026, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke by telephone with His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. In both calls he condemned the attacks on Bahrain and expressed solidarity with the people of Bahrain. He reiterated the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure, and thanked the King for his support to the Indian community in Bahrain.

Voice of Global South and regional forums

Bahrain has taken part in India's Voice of Global South Summits. Bahraini Minister of Oil and Environment Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Daina virtually represented Bahrain in the Energy Ministers' Session on 13 January 2023. Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa sent a recorded video message to the Concluding Leaders' Session of Voice of Global South Summit 2.0 on 17 November 2023. FM Zayani took part in the 2nd Foreign Ministers' Session of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit 2024, chaired by EAM on 17 August 2024.

India hosted the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (IAFMM) on 31 January 2026, co-chaired by India and the UAE. The Bahraini delegation was led by Amb. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations, and Mr. Ahmed Al Tarifi, Chief of the Arab and African Affairs Sector at MOFA. The Prime Minister received the heads of the participating delegations on 01 February 2026.

Dialogue mechanisms

The High Joint Commission (HJC) is chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Foreign Minister of Bahrain. According to the brief, the 5th HJC, held in New Delhi on 03 November 2025, reviewed progress since the 4th HJC and discussed ways to further deepen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, space, science and technology, and healthcare. The 6th HJC is to be held in Bahrain.

Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) are held at the level of the Foreign Secretary of India and the Undersecretary for Political Affairs of Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 5th round was held in New Delhi on 28 March 2022 and the 6th in Manama on 30 May 2023. The 7th round is to be held in New Delhi.

On 12 May 2026, Secretary (CPV&OIA) Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan held virtual consultations with H.E. Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Acting Undersecretary for Political Affairs and Director General of Bilateral Relations at MOFA. The brief states that they reviewed the bilateral relationship and exchanged views on areas of mutual interest, including the current situation in the region.

General agreements

Among the agreements signed between the two countries, the brief lists the following on diplomatic cooperation:

  • MoU on Cooperation between Ministry of External Affairs, India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain (January 2004)
  • MoU on the establishment of a Joint High Commission (February 2014)
  • MoU on cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and the Diplomatic Institute, Bahrain (February 2014)