ShareKUWAIT: The Australian Embassy organized a press roundtable conference discussing the Australia-Kuwait relationship and Australia’s broader foreign policy issues. Australian Ambassador Melissa Kelly revealed her country will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Kuwait through 2024. “Throughout the year, we will be honoring this milestone in different ways. Focus will be on diplomatic activities between our governments: A key moment of reflection will be the historic visit of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Australia in 1992, the first-ever visit by a Kuwaiti ruler to Australia. I hope that during the year, we will see Kuwaiti ministers visit Australia, and more Australian ministers in Kuwait,” she said.
During the press roundtable, the ambassador said in 2022, the Australian government announced the intention to phase out exports of live sheep by sea, indicating the gradual end will not begin before mid-2025. She affirmed her country’s commitment to remaining a partner of choice for Kuwait in ensuring its food security.
On Australia’s position on Gaza, she noted that the devastating crisis in Gaza underscores the need for a political solution to the conflict. “We are gravely concerned about the humanitarian situation and a large number of civilian deaths in Gaza,” the ambassador said. Kelly indicated Australia has consistently called for safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access and it has voted at the UN for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. “We see this as a critical step to a sustainable and permanent ceasefire. Australia’s guiding principle has always been the pursuit of a just and enduring peace in the form of a two-state solution – we strongly support Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own,” she pointed out.
Kelly added since 1951, Australia has funded UNRWA because it is the only organization of its kind delivering aid to Palestinians. “We are deeply concerned at the allegations against UNRWA staff and welcome UNRWA’s immediate response. While UNRWA investigates, we have paused our latest disbursement of funding. Australian development assistance is funded by Australian taxpayers and therefore incorporates rigorous fraud protection requirements. However, given the scale of the humanitarian crisis and absence of alternatives to provide life-saving aid, Australia is working closely with UNRWA and other partners on how to effectively deliver assistance to Palestinians in the circumstances,” she said.
Kelly said the number of the Australian community residing in Kuwait amounts to 800 people who work in various fields, especially in the oil and gas sectors. Regarding security and military cooperation, Kelly said Australia has been militarily present in the region since 1990, when it participated with coalition forces in liberating Kuwait. Since that time, it has made minor contributions to operations to protect navigation in the Red Sea. “We have a presence in military bases in Kuwait and we work closely with the Kuwaiti government in order to maintain the security of the region,” she noted.
Concerning Kuwaiti investments in Australia, Kelly said: “There are large and diverse investments in various fields, especially in the field of green energy, as the volume of Kuwaiti investments in Australia amounts to about 13 billion Australian dollars.” She expressed hope that the volume of investments will increase in line with the capabilities available in the two friendly countries.
On the occasion of 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Australian Embassy’s social media accounts will showcase ‘50 stories for 50 years’ across 2024 – a collection of stories that highlight the diversity and depth of the Australian-Kuwaiti relationship. They will include Australia’s support during Kuwait’s liberation, the pioneering spirit of Australians like Alan Villiers, whose late-1930s adventures in Kuwait opened a window into Kuwait’s pre-oil era through his book “Sons of Sinbad”, to the innovative partnerships of today that are looking toward building a more sustainable future, the tale of the very first wheat trade agreement in 1966, which set the stage for decades of agricultural cooperation, joint ventures in science and innovation, where Australian and Kuwaiti expertise has come together to address global challenges, and deep bonds formed through education, highlighting the experiences of Kuwaiti students in Australia and how these cross-cultural exchanges have enriched both societies.
“While a big focus is celebrating the past and the people who have contributed to it, we also want to set the agenda for the next 50 years. This will mean looking at questions like how we bring our food security partnership into the future; how our education cooperation can respond to Kuwait’s vision for economic development; and how can Australia and Kuwait work together to strengthen the international system in times of such great challenge,” Kelly said.
“The story of Australia and Kuwait’s cooperation is rich and multifaceted. As Australian ambassador, I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in the journey of Australia and Kuwait’s enduring friendship, and I am looking forward to many decades of strong cooperation to come,” the Australian ambassador added.
