ShareKUWAIT: Since the beginning of 2024, Kuwait has continued its efforts to enhance its international relations on both bilateral and multilateral levels, guided by Amiri directives and an ambitious strategic vision aimed at solidifying its status on the global stage and achieving tangible accomplishments across various fields, particularly in diplomacy and politics.
On December 16, 2023, following the announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the new Amir, Kuwait adopted an ambitious approach to strengthen its cooperation with international partners and global organizations while also developing its relationships with friendly and brotherly nations. The visits made by His Highness the Amir to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at the end of January 2024 were a cornerstone in this diplomatic endeavor, especially as they marked his first official trips since assuming power. These visits underscored the commitment to enhancing Gulf integration and advancing joint cooperation to new horizons.
The prominent Gulf tour, which took place approximately 45 days after His Highness assumed leadership, carried significant temporal, strategic, and geopolitical implications both regionally and internationally. Statements issued at the conclusion of the tour highlighted Kuwait’s strategic position within the Gulf region and emphasized the strong historical ties and relationships between Kuwait and other GCC countries, as well as the commitment to expanding cooperation and developing partnerships across all fields. His Highness the Amir’s visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt at the end of April provided an ideal opportunity to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in various areas. The joint Kuwaiti-Egyptian statement issued at the end of the visit affirmed the depth of bilateral relations between the two nations.
His Highness the Amir’s visit to the Republic of Turkey on May 7-8, 2024, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, saw the signing of six agreements and memoranda of understanding. The memoranda aimed to strengthen Kuwaiti-Turkish relations in areas such as disaster management, housing and infrastructure.
In addition to these visits, there were high-level directives to the Kuwaiti government to enhance diplomatic relations with brotherly and friendly countries, elevating cooperation frameworks across various sectors to new heights and reinforcing Kuwait’s humanitarian role. In line with these directives, Kuwait has been actively engaging in various international activities to foster close collaboration with global partners. The ministerial meetings for strategic dialogue between the GCC and countries like Russia, Brazil, and India, held on September 9 at the GCC’s headquarters in Riyadh, have bolstered relations with these nations in political, economic, investment, and cultural areas.
Additionally, during the 162nd session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level last month, Kuwait, represented by Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, engaged in multiple consultations and meetings with foreign ministers and international officials to discuss various areas of cooperation and frameworks for enhancing bilateral relations.
At the fifth session of the Kuwait-UAE Joint Higher Committee held in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of September, the bilateral relationship with the UAE took a new turn with the signing of several memoranda of understanding and executive programs in vital developmental sectors, including infrastructure, telecommunications, information technology, and cybersecurity, as well as defense procurement. In the fields of social affairs, charity, and humanitarian work, Kuwait signed memoranda of understanding with Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait’s participation in the high-level general debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York marked a significant moment in strengthening its efforts to build robust international relations. During this event, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah held 44 meetings with heads of states, prime ministers, and senior officials, discussing ways to support and enhance bilateral relations and strong partnerships, as well as addressing key regional and international developments.
The discussions held by the Crown Prince in New York reflected Kuwait’s deep commitment to political, military, security, economic, investment, and sports issues, alongside its dedication to collaborative efforts in addressing development challenges and climate change. In parallel, Kuwait is preparing to participate in the first summit between the GCC and the European Union scheduled for this October in Brussels, which is seen as a historic milestone in Gulf-European relations. Kuwait aims to further develop its ties with the EU in strategic areas and maximize the outcomes of joint cooperation across various sectors.
Kuwait is also set to continue strengthening Gulf ties through its upcoming hosting of the GCC summit scheduled for December, where its contributions to the council’s work are recognized as vital to elevating the GCC to one of the most successful and effective regional unions. Kuwait believes in intensifying efforts to achieve further accomplishments that enable member states to tackle changing regional and international challenges while meeting the aspirations of their citizens and maximizing the shared strategic and economic benefits among member countries.
Kuwait’s doctrine emphasizes the concept of collective security among GCC states, viewing it as an indivisible whole. Protecting the Gulf peoples from the prevailing tensions in the region requires fostering continuous cooperation with friendly nations and influential international organizations to benefit from their vast resources and expertise in enhancing development capacities and safeguarding nations and peoples.
Kuwait’s diplomatic initiatives have positioned the country strategically and effectively in regional and global issues, acting as a neutral mediator in conflicts, forming effective strategic alliances, and supporting international development initiatives. Kuwait continuously strives to amplify the impact of its diplomatic efforts, rooted in the principle of preventive diplomacy, which is a cornerstone of its foreign policy. By hosting over 100 diplomatic missions and regional international organizations affiliated with the United Nations, Kuwait has significantly enhanced active communication with these entities, deepening and enriching Kuwait’s international relations. — KUNA
