Bahraini-Turkish Relations: A Strategic Role Adaptation of Manama

Turkish-Bahraini bilateral ties provide a fertile ground for a comprehensive set of discussions on regional affairs, yet it is an understudied topic with little work done on these bilateral ties. This research aims to fulfill a valid gap in the Gulf studies literature by describing the Bahraini foreign policy dynamics in its relations with Türkiye. In this respect, the purpose is to answer two questions: What are the major national role types that Bahrain accommodates in the contemporary Middle East system in conducting foreign policymaking towards Türkiye? How does Bahrain’s role conceptions towards Türkiye work under a sub-regional Saudi hegemony? There has been continuous, solid, yet limited diplomatic communication between Bahrain and Türkiye. With a hybrid use of post-structural discourse theory and role theory the nature of the emerging ties is elaborated, focusing on the Bahraini foreign affairs. This research proposes that there are two dynamics in the Bahraini foreign policymaking towards Türkiye: a faithful ally of Saudi Arabia and strategic role adaptation. These roles are either played simultaneously, as is the case in the peak years of cooperation with Türkiye, or being a faithful ally of Saudi Arabia dominates Bahrain’s strategic role adaptations, notably in the times of crises.