36 February 2018 www.bahrainthismonth.com New US Ambassador HE Justin Siberell tells Liz O’Reilly that bilateral relations are as strong as ever. Ambassador Siberell took up his post in early November last year but was quickly back in Washington DC for the visit by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, which His Excellency says was “an honour and a great way to get started”. His Excellency is no stranger to the Middle East, having served in Baghdad, Jordan, Egypt and, most recently, Dubai – where he earlier met his wife. He had previously visited Bahrain and this is his first ambassadorial posting. He is an Arabic speaker, having studied through the US State Department, and he has been interested in the Gulf region since his first posting to Dubai in 1995 saying: “I was deeply compelled by the issues, culture and history you sense here. “I think, as a US diplomat, this part of the world is one in which are combined important matters of national security – it’s a strategic region for the United States. What happens here impacts the world. It is also an east and west crossroads. That’s fascinating on a personal level and has strategic implications that make diplomacy very important. I will always be interested on all levels.” Prior to his Bahrain posting, His Excellency served as the coordinator for counterterrorism at the US Department of State from 2012 and he feels this is helpful in his current role, saying: “Terrorism as a global phenomenon is a challenge and affliction that every country is dealing with. Confronting it requires international collaboration and cooperation. That experience is extremely relevant to the work we’re doing in the region. “My time [at the State Department] coincided with the rise of Islamic State and our effort to build a 70 country coalition to defeat it. It is among the most consequential challenges we face. “Bahrain itself has been a victim of terrorism and we work closely with the government of Bahrain to address threats to our shared security.” The Ambassador says his primary ambition for his time in the Kingdom is to strengthen the already close bonds enjoyed by Bahrain and the US people. He says: “I take direction from our leadership and my job is made easier by the commitment of President Trump to the Gulf. His first trip for example – typically, presidents visit our close neighbours like Canada or Mexico, but President Trump’s first trip outside the US was to Riyadh, a clear indication of the importance we place on the Gulf region. So, my direction is quite clear and the commitment of the leaders of both countries is clear.” this month INTERVIEWS Betting On Bitcoin, p40 A Green Extravaganza, p42 Hungry for Success, p48 Like Father, Like Son, p38 HE Justin Siberell MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP
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