Italy has loosened restrictions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported government sources saying yesterday, in a move aimed at easing diplomatic tensions with the two Gulf states.

Nakhleh stressed that US policy clearly shows the growing influence of Bahrain’s lobbyists in Washington and the cozy relationships that Tillerson has forged with Bahrain, the UAE and other GCC, stressing that these Sunni countries are ruled by tribal potentates who violate their citizens’ basic human rights blatantly, viciously, and systematically.

Trump administration decided to remove any HR conditions from sales of F-16 and other arms to Bahrain. The rationale for doing so is the idea that hard power considerations ought to come before softer concerns for the rights of someone else’s citizens.

Bahrain continues to pay the Republican Trump administration. It is trying its best to veer Washington away from the island kingdom’s internal crisis, which has been under criticism by the Democratic administration led by former president Barack Obama.

Human Rights First condemned Trump Administration’s decision to move forward with sale of 19 F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain, despite Bahraini regime’s failure to meet human rights conditions attached to deal.

Amnesty International strongly criticized US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who will reportedly lift human rights conditions on an arms sale to Bahrain, despite that country’s record of oppression against dissidents.

Amnesty has urged US President Donald Trump not to approve arms sales to the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, warning such moves could implicate the United States in possible war crimes in Yemen, reported the Independent.

Brian Dooley stressed that the sale will encourage further repression in the island kingdom of Bahrain, which, in turn, will cause greater instability and violence in the country.

The UK government has prioritised business dealings with the Gulf over rampant human rights abuses in Bahrain since 2011 uprising.

For the people of Bahrain, a key US ally, the new US president’s dissimilar direction in foreign policy from his predecessor Obama may cause for alarm or hope.

US halt of arms deal with Bahrain, due to Manama’s deteriorating human rights record, was the highlight of foreign events that came in line with internal Bahraini affairs in 2016.