While the Gulfregion and many countries including the US are confronting serious challengesin the region, Kuwait appears safe from conflicts under the wise foreign policyled by HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and many Kuwaitisare not worried. Has Kuwaiti foreign policy succeeded in maintaining adifficult balance in the tense region? The answer is yes, and here is why.
Kuwait is theonly Arab country that has not publicly faced a foreign diplomatic crisis inthe past 10 years with almost any country except in its relations with theSyrian regime within the framework of the Gulf, Arab and international stanceto condemn the violence there. Yet, lines remain open for dialogue anddiplomacy.
Kuwait's foreignpolicy is supported by the positions of the political leadership represented byHH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who is considered one of the mostopen Arab leaders and most committed to the protocol of participation inregional, Arab and international events. In fact, the policy of neutralizingadversaries has been very successful for Kuwait, and it did not drift to enterinto a tense relationship with any external party or state within itsterritorial sphere.
Even in theglobal campaign against terror, Kuwait has always been content to providelogistical support to the international coalition, even in times of tensionwith Iran or Iraq. Moreover, Kuwait has offered various initiatives toneighboring Iraq following the tensions after the invasion by the former Saddamregime and maintained a balance in respect for the self-determination of thepeoples of neighboring countries.
Indeed, Kuwaitidiplomacy has succeeded in not creating opponents, which is difficult today formany Arab and foreign countries, as Kuwait is among the few countries in theworld that does not have direct enemies or even tensions in its externalrelations that pose a threat to security of the country's nationalism. So,Kuwait indeed is the Arab country with the most positive external allianceswith various countries in the world.
Kuwait is locatedin a geopolitical and geographic area that is inflamed by wars, disputes andconflicts, in addition to being a rich oil country. The reality is that theGulf states, including Kuwait, export 40 percent of the world's energy needs,and their strategic position contributes to the stability of the world.
While many Arabcountries have classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization,Kuwait has not made such a classification to respect the privacy of everycountry as long it is under the law and the constitution that allows freedom ofthought and expression to all components of society, taking into account thediversity of the Kuwaiti society's composition of citizens and expats. Themajority of the components of the society are in harmony under the state and aconstitution that guarantees all rights and freedoms that may not be permittedby other countries.
Moreover,internal political movements and the opposition did not have any negativeimpact on Kuwaiti foreign policy and its relations with other countries. I knowthat we are not an ideal state and we have opponents or individuals who choseto exile themselves and stay outside the country over political rivalries, butthis did not change or affect foreign policy in any way.
While Kuwait'sneighbors have been tense with Iran, including the United States, Kuwait didnot sever its relations with Tehran. Kuwait also acted as a peace broker, andthe same applies to its position towards Qatar and the Gulf states. As aKuwaiti citizen, I feel proud that my country is on the rise. I like it thatKuwaitis can enter many nations without a visa, although citizens of many Arabcountries face difficulties in the freedom of travel and getting a visa.
I believe thatthere is a deep understanding in Kuwait's foreign policy that no country inthis world should think it has a right to interfere in the affairs of others,or that their religions or beliefs are incompatible with the concepts adheredto by the countries of the world under the charter of the United Nations.
According to theIndex of Peace in International Relations, Kuwait is among the governments thatdo not face clear tensions in relations at all political, military, security,economic levels. There is no doubt that Kuwait's foreign policy has succeededfor decades, while others have failed or are struggling in maintaining abalance. I am proud of my political leadership and the success of my homeland.
By Muna Al-Fuzai
muna@kuwaittimes.net