By Faten Omar and KUNA
KUWAIT: US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara praised the United States’ long-standing relationship with Kuwait on Wednesday, reaffirming her country’s unwavering commitment to the security and sovereignty of Kuwait. "We have a very strong relationship that goes back even beyond 33 years, since invasion and liberation. It’s nice to look in the past, but we have to keep moving forward,” she told the press during a ceremony hosted by the US embassy in Kuwait, celebrating the 248th US Independence Day.
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, who participated in the reception, extended heartfelt congratulations to the United States, its leadership, government, and people, wishing for the continued progress and prosperity of the close bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. In a statement to KUNA, he also expressed hopes for further development and enhancement of the existing strategic partnership.
Sasahara noted that her country wants to remain a good partner for Kuwait and keep working together and move forward. "Our shared history has been shaped by both prosperity and hardship. From the days of Kuwaiti pearl divers navigating the seas in dhows to the present, where Kuwaiti engineers develop cutting-edge safety systems for the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, our partnership has evolved and strengthened. Five generations of Kuwaitis have studied in the US and returned home to enrich their nation, while trade between our countries now reaches billions of dollars annually in goods and services.”
Minister Al-Yahya praised the historical relations between Kuwait and the United States, noting that this year marks 63 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He emphasized the depth of these relations, which are characterized by a continuously evolving cooperation in various fields to achieve the common interests of both countries and their peoples.
On the security level, Sasahara said: "We have the fourth largest presence outside of the United States. Our security partnership has been tested and emerged stronger.” Regarding the current situation in Gaza, she noted: "We must also acknowledge the looming challenges, particularly the conflict that has cast a shadow over the region since last year. It is crucial to work toward an international consensus, backed by persistent diplomacy, to bring an end to the violence and restore peace for the most vulnerable, and to start the process for practical, time-bound, irreversible steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. As one anonymous wise man once said, you can’t kill your way out of a war. May God protect all innocents no matter who they are or where they are.”
The US ambassador spoke of the significance of democracy in Kuwait, noting that the country has a proud democratic history, as seen in the diwaniya, where public dialogue and debate have always flourished. On the American election, the ambassador indicated that all Americans must embrace the civic responsibility that was so hard-fought for us to be able to exercise. "More than 4 billion people have already gone or will go to the polls this year.
Citizens of more than 100 countries on all continents have a voice in shaping their future and the future of their children. Democracy is not just a single election on a single day. It’s a lifelong commitment to representation, accountability, and the idea that every individual has a stake in their nation’s future.” Ambassador Sasahara also highlighted the cultural and personal ties between Kuwait and the US, saying: "Thousands of Kuwaitis travel to the United States each year for tourism, business, and to benefit from the world-class medical and technological services.”