Manama's embassy in Washington is circulating a letter in the House and Senate that highlights the Gulf island kingdom's role in the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. The letter, which is addressed to Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, also highlights the need for "unity and cohesiveness" amid nuclear talks with Iran that have put the Arab Gulf countries on edge.
"As the pace of the fight against ISIL [IS] picks up and the nuclear talks with Iran proceed, it is critical that we demonstrate unity and cohesiveness among our Coalition partners," says the letter, which was obtained by Al-Monitor. "We believe that lifting the holds placed on the sale of certain military items to Bahrain would send a strong message of support to our allies in the region. We urge the administration to lift the holds placed on items that do not require congressional notification immediately, and to begin to work promptly to resolve those that do."