KUWAIT: Kuwaithosts on Tuesday the 3rd Kuwait-US Strategic Dialogue Session, to be co-chairedby the two countries' foreign ministers, with aim of further cementingrelations and cooperation to new levels. The previous Strategic Dialoguesessions were held in the US in 2016 and 2017, during which the two countriessigned cooperation agreements and memoranda of understandings (MoUs) oversecurity, counter-terrorism, economy, trade, education, oil, custom andconsular affairs, raising to 23 number of deals between the two countries.
This year'ssession will be co-chaired by Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and US Secretary of StateMike Pompeo. The strategic dialogue will set a roadmap for cooperation betweenKuwait and the US for the next 25 years in different fields. Trade exchangeamounted to $4 billion and Kuwait was investing $400 billion in the US. Kuwaitand the US are also important players in the counter-terrorism efforts as wellas in the global fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS).
Continuous work
The two countriesseek, through strategic dialogue, to boost cooperation and coordination overregional and international issues, US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silvermansaid. The dialogue is a foundation for "our continuous work" and wassupported the leaderships in the two countries, he added. Since the strategicdialogue was established in October 2016, said Silverman, work groups beganimplementing cooperation means in defense, trade, security, investment,consular affairs and education. Relations between the Kuwaiti and Americanarmies are excellent, he said, and the US commitment to defending Kuwait'ssecurity was firm.
Silverman saidthe US was providing technical support for Kuwait army and security forces. Headded US and Kuwaiti military personnel were working together on training ofKuwait armed forces. America is the second largest exporter of goods and servicesto Kuwait, said Silverman. The US, he affirmed, welcomed His Highness the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's initiatives aimed at maintainingsecurity of Kuwait, as well as achieving security and stability in the region.Kuwait also played a key role in regional issues, he said, hosting donorconferences for Syria and an international meeting for the reconstruction ofIraq last February.
Silverman alsonoted Kuwait's leading humanitarian role in the region and the world. The USdelegation to the strategic dialogue will exchange views over pressing regionalchallenges including Yemen, Syria and Iran, said Silverman, in addition tobolstering counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination within the UNSecurity Council. Among authorities taking part in the dialogue from Kuwait areMinistries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defense and Higher Education,Directorate General for Civil Aviation, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotionauthority (KDIPA), Kuwait Investment Authority, National Security Bureau,Directorate of Custom, and Communication and Information Technology RegulatoryAuthority (CITRA).
Agreements
Meanwhile, aKuwaiti official said that signing an agreement to boost their ongoingStrategic Dialogue and others in defense, security and economic affairs will beon the agenda of Pompeo's visit to Kuwait. During his past trip to Washingtonin September, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahsigned numerous deals illustrating the two countries' intent to further cementtheir relationship, according to Reem Al-Khaled, Kuwait's assistant foreignminister for the Americas. In Kuwait, a meeting for Pompeo with His Highness isscheduled, whereby, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign MinisterSheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the three will discuss developments onissues of mutual significance, added Khaled.
The talks willalso present an opportunity to delve into several regional and global matters,namely the Gulf dispute, relations between Gulf states and Iran and thesituations in Syria, Yemen and Libya. About the Strategic Dialogue, currentlyin its third annual session, this will include the usual topics of defense,education, economics, consulate and customs affairs, civil aviation and cybersecurity - with the matters of trade and scientific research introduced to thefold for the very first time.
The Kuwaitiofficial also pointed out that five working groups, stemming from the dialogue,have been meeting on several occasions during the year. One of these will hostbusinesspersons and companies at an economic and investment forum jointlyorganized by the Kuwaiti and US chambers of commerce, both of whom are expectedto sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting economic relations. - KUNA