Pompeo discusses Gulf unity, regional stability with Bahraini leaders

 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed regional stability and Gulf unity with Bahraini leaders on Wednesday, as part of a Middle East tour following an accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on normalizing relations. On his arrival on Tuesday night, Pompeo had said it was vital to seize the momentum of the US-brokered deal announced on Aug. 13.

Israel and the United States have said they are pushing more Arab countries to follow the UAE's path. Israel's intelligence minister has mentioned Bahrain as a possible candidate.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he welcomed US efforts towards the Israel-UAE accord, noting "the importance of re-doubling efforts to realize a just solution which utilizes peace as a strategic option to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," state news agency BNA said.

Pompeo also met the king of Bahrain, the foreign minister and Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the king's son who was appointed National Security Advisor in October.

The king and Pompeo discussed developing bilateral relations, with the king stressing the importance of intensifying efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, BNA said.

Bahrain welcomed the UAE-Israel accord soon after it was announced and said it raised the chances of peace.

"We discussed the importance of building regional peace and stability, including the importance of Gulf unity and countering Iran's malign influence in the region," Pompeo wrote on Twitter after meeting the crown prince.

Pompeo visited Jerusalem and Sudan before Bahrain and is now in the UAE.

"Excited to arrive in the United Arab Emirates and congratulate the Emirati people on the historic Abraham Accords– the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years. Hopeful we will  build on this momentum towards regional peace," Pompeo said on Twitter, referring to the UAE-Israel agreement aimed at normalizing relations.