Hegseth's meeting comes a day after President Donald Trump hosted Bahrain's crown prince and Qatar's prime minister at the White House. The meetings focused on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with the Persian Gulf region.

Bahrain's crown prince announced $17 billion in U.S. investments, including buying a dozen Boeing jets and 40 GE engines.

Bahrain carrier signs preliminary agreement for widebody jets, with options for six more, one day after country's crown prince met with US president

Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt expressed support for Syria’s security and sovereignty.

The moves by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates mark a significant shift in regional air traffic and security policies. Kuwait announced on Monday it has closed its airspace until further notice due to rising tensions in the region.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued Qatar a sweeping list of ultimatums last week that included a demand to close a Turkish military base inside Qatar.

In 2025, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain each offer unique advantages for expats. The UAE shines for business and tax benefits, Qatar stands out for safety and family life, while Bahrain offers affordability and a relaxed pace.

Bahrain will open its airspace to Qatar as of Jan. 11, the civil aviation affairs authority said on Sunday, following a U.S.-backed deal by Arab states last week to end a dispute with Doha.

Bahrain, with a population of 1.6 million, has reported more than 37,000 cases and 130 deaths. Strikingly, the fatality rate in the two countries remains low, with Qatar at 0.15% and Bahrain at 0.34%.

Amidst renewed Middle East peace doubts and escalating violence in Syria, President Trump welcomed Bahrain's Crown Prince and Qatar's Prime Minister t