KUWAIT: Belgian Ambassador to Kuwait Christian Dooms highlighted the strong ties between Kuwait and Belgium, emphasizing their enduring partnership over six decades. Speaking at a reception celebrating King’s Day, he noted that 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations established after Kuwait’s independence. Ambassador Dooms underscored Belgium’s significant role in Kuwait’s liberation during the Gulf War, with the Belgian navy playing a key part in mine-clearing operations as part of the international coalition.

On economic collaboration, he revealed that a planned Belgian economic mission to Kuwait this year was postponed to April 2025 for organizational reasons, with other projects in the pipeline. Highlighting historical ties, he shared that Kuwait was the first Gulf country to import cars more than a 100 years ago. The first car in Kuwait, appearing in 1911, was a Belgian Minerva, arriving two years before Bahrain imported its first vehicle.

The ambassador also expressed a commitment to enhancing connectivity between the nations, emphasizing the importance of establishing a direct flight between Brussels and Kuwait. “This is a crucial file I am working on,” he stated.

Dooms praised Kuwait’s humanitarian contributions, commending its support for Palestinians, as well as people in Lebanon and Sudan. He also noted Belgium’s participation in the EU-GCC Summit on Oct 16, where discussions focused on regional crises, including the situations in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine.

He highlighted the shared vision of Kuwait and Belgium in the Human Rights Council, emphasizing their advocacy for peaceful conflict resolution and adherence to the UN Charter. “Countries like ours, which have experienced invasions, have a role to play in promoting respect for international law,” he concluded.