巴林王國

位於波灣的島國,面積只有780平方公里,大概等於我們的宜蘭縣南澳鄉。麻雀雖小,但巴林可是最早開發石油的波灣國家,各項發展皆是波灣國家的優等生,外交表現也相當優秀,與美國和其他波灣國家關係良好。軍事和財政上仰賴同為遜尼派的沙烏地阿拉伯及阿聯,所以常常看到巴林在國際場合上採取和這兩國一樣的立場。2022年全球油價飆漲,以石油為主要出口商品的巴林因此受惠,預計將能在該年度收支平衡,人均GDP將會超越疫情前的水準。但國內民主指數和婦女權益表現不佳,針對婦女的暴力行為頻傳,受到許多國際人權組織關切。
看2022最早開發石油的海灣國家,人均GDP連續三年擠進全球前40名。人均壽命將近77歲,識字率高達97.5%,是海灣國家的優等生。有著相當重要的地理位置,左邊黏著遜尼派老大哥沙烏地阿拉伯,右邊和什葉派伊朗隔海相望。與美國關係良好,美國海軍第五艦隊常駐於巴林,隨時掌握波斯灣及印度洋的動靜。2020年更在川普的穿針引線下,成為第四個承認以色列的阿拉伯國家。但國內存在著教派衝突。雖然什葉派人民比較多,但執政者是遜尼派,導致什葉派人民常常覺得被歧視。
Year Founded: 1971
One of the earliest gulf countries to exploit its oil reserves, the GDP per capita of the Kingdom of Bahrain has ranked among the top 40 globally for three consecutive years. The average life expectancy is close to 77 years, and the literacy rate is as high as 97.5%. Bahrain is the poster child of the Gulf countries. Bahrain sits at a critical geographical location with Saudi Arabia, the leading Sunni state on its left and Shia Iran to its right across the sea. It maintains good relations with the United States, and the United States based its Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain to keep tabs on the activities in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. In 2020, with the Trump administration acting as an intermediary, Bahrain became the fourth Arab state to recognize Israel. The state still has unresolved conflicts between religious sects. While Shia Muslims are the majority, it is Sunni Muslims who control the government and Shia Muslims feel that they suffer from discrimination.