Ambassador to US attends inauguration ceremony of Global Entry Program

Washington, July 18 (BNA): Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa attended the Global Entry Program launch ceremony at the Customs and Border Protection headquarters in Washington D.C. The program was decided during the official visit of the Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa to the United States last month. The visit was part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries, which continue to receive the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. This comes within the activation of an agreement signed between Bahrain and the US in January 2021. The program facilitates the entry of Bahrainis to the US through the Global Entry kiosks. The ambassador emphasized that joining the program is an international achievement for Bahrain, and will further facilitate travel for Bahrainis to the United States. He highlighted that the program allows expedited clearance for pre-approved individuals upon arrival in the US. Shaikh Rashid said that this step is evidence of the ongoing and long-term cooperation in security and economic affairs. He noted that it also reflects the dedication of both countries to further strengthening bilateral relations in facilitating commerce, tourism, and people-to-people initiatives, as well as solidifying efforts to ensure the security of both countries’ borders. He said that the program will grant Bahrainis expedited clearance upon arrival in the US through the use of kiosks strategically placed in numerous US airports and at pre-clearance facilities worldwide. The ambassador explained that the Global Entry program with the Kingdom shows other levels of border security implemented to facilitate the lawful travel of Bahrainis to the U.S. He conveyed his gratitude for all those who contributed to making such a historic arrangement a possibility. He hailed the remarkable efforts of the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs for its role in this regard. The benefits of the program include reducing processing lines and facilitating fast entry through main US airports.