Bahrain and France Sign Nuclear Energy Cooperation Memorandum to Advance Civil Nuclear Power Program

On October 20, 2026, Bahrain and France formally signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Manama, aimed at cultivating key professional talent and skills for the development of Bahrain's civil nuclear power program.

The agreement was reportedly signed during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Bahrain and his talks with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of the memorandum by Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The agreement will focus on specialized training programs to help Bahrain build and sustain technical capabilities in the civil nuclear energy field.

During the talks, the two leaders also held in-depth discussions on strategic cooperation in areas such as investment, economic development, national defense and security, sustainable development, and advanced technologies, and exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East. King Hamad stated that the two sides' broad cooperation in security, energy, and technology has injected momentum into regional stability; Macron emphasized the need to further deepen energy ties and strategic partnerships with Gulf countries.

This visit is an important stop on Macron's multi-country Gulf tour. The French Presidency stated that the trip is intended to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships with Gulf countries, while jointly safeguarding regional stability, energy security, and navigational safety in relevant straits, and building long-term bridges for regional energy transition and technological cooperation.