Saudi Gazette report

WASHINGTON — The United States has commended Bahrain for its successful efforts to combat human trafficking.

In a press statement on Friday, spokesman of the US Department of State Ned Price said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks by phone on Friday with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif Al-Zayani.

They “discussed Bahrain’s historic opening with Israel, ways to capitalize on progress made at the first US-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue held in December, and joint regional security initiatives throughout the Gulf,” according to the statement.

The US secretary of state outlined key policy objectives in his talks with the Bahraini foreign minister, including continued progress on human rights,

The talks take place after King Hamad Bin Isa appointed Khalid Yusuf Al Jalahma as Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa appointed its first ambassador to Israel and ordered the establishment of the Bahraini mission in Tel Aviv in two separate royal orders early this week.