The U.S., Israel, Bahrain and other members of the Negev Forum Steering Committee convened an inaugural meeting in Bahrain “to further coordinate… [the members’] collective efforts and advance a common vision for the region”. In a joint statement, participants said the “meeting demonstrates the strength of our relations, our shared commitment to cooperation and the important opportunities unlocked by improved relations between Israel and its neighbours, showing what can be achieved by working together to overcome shared challenges”.