ShareKUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, commences, on Tuesday, an official visit to Turkey. The visit encompasses summit talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to bolster bilateral ties and coordinate cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest. The notable and continuous development of relations between the two countries is stimulated by mutual visions and the keenness of political leadership.
Kuwaiti-Turkish relations, marked with respect, mutual interest, and coordination, date back to 1969, when the two inked a diplomatic relations agreement. Over the past six decades, bilateral relations have experienced exponential growth as Turkey has proven itself a true partner in times of need. During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Turkey took a firm stance against the aggression and stood in solidarity with Kuwait and its call for sovereignty and independence.
Following the liberation of Kuwait, the two continued exchanging visits on a multitude of levels and for various prospects. Kuwait showcased its solidarity with Turkey after the failed coup attempt in 2016, affirming its support for the Turkish people and their democratically elected government. The two friendly nations share a firm position on the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state, condemning the aggression and underscoring the necessity of alleviating the suffering of Palestinians.
On a global scale, the two are keen on combating terrorism and rejecting attempts to link terrorist and criminal acts to specific religions, sects, or divisions. In 1983, Kuwait and Turkey inked an agreement for economic, industrial, and technical cooperation, while in 1988 they signed an investment-encouragement deal. The Turkish-Kuwaiti Joint Committee for Cooperation held its first session back in October of 2013 to amplify cooperation across a variety of fields.
The two have signed some 62 agreements concerning various fields, with Kuwaiti investments in Turkey reaching $2.5 billion. Around 447 Kuwaiti companies are operating in Turkey, while some 50 Turkish companies are in Kuwait. Turkish companies in Kuwait, mainly concerned with infrastructure, have executed 50 projects with a total value estimated at $9 billion, including Kuwait’s new international airport.
In addition to cooperation on economic and technical fronts, the two also engaged in activities promoting defense and parliamentary partnerships. On a humanitarian level, Kuwait has lent its support to Turkey in times of need, including the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in 2021 and fire eruptions in 2023, as well as largely contributing to easing the burden on the Turkish government as host to some three million Syrian refugees. — KUNA
