Spanish Ambassador: Kuwait is a strategic partner... We look forward to political dialogue and enhancing bilateral cooperation

Osama Diab: The Spanish Ambassador to Kuwait, Manuel Hernandez, affirmed the depth of Kuwait-Spain relations and their growing development across various fields, emphasizing his country’s commitment to elevating political, economic, and security cooperation, reflecting the solid historical ties and shared interests between the two friendly nations.

Hernandez stated that Kuwait represents an important strategic partner for Spain, and that bilateral relations are undergoing a dynamic and promising phase that opens broader horizons for enhancing cooperation in vital sectors, especially following the results of the political consultations held by both sides in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on October 7.

This came during a speech delivered by the Spanish Ambassador at a celebration organized by the embassy to mark his country’s National Day, attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Hamad Al-Mushaan, a number of heads of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations.

Hernandez clarified that the political consultations resulted in an agreement by both sides to move forward toward establishing a strategic political dialogue, representing a qualitative leap in the institutional relations between the two countries. This includes holding high-level meetings and forming specialized working groups to examine areas of mutual interest.

He added that the coming phase will focus on enhancing cooperation in several strategic sectors, foremost among them defense, health, cybersecurity, and food security, alongside exploring the possibility of organizing high-level official visits between officials of both countries in the near future.

On the economic front, the Spanish Ambassador pointed out that trade indicators reflect the strength and continuous development of the partnership between Kuwait and Spain. He noted that Spanish exports to the Kuwaiti market have recorded continuous growth in recent years, while Spanish imports from Kuwait rose by more than 200 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

He highlighted that Spanish companies have a presence in several vital sectors in Kuwait, including renewable energy, oil, civil aviation, and transport infrastructure, emphasizing that their activities contribute to supporting the country’s development and progress, reflecting Spain’s interest in expanding its economic and investment partnerships with Kuwait.

He revealed preparations for holding the next meeting of the Kuwait-Spain Joint Economic Commission in Madrid during 2027, with the aim of broadening the horizons of trade and investment cooperation and exploring new opportunities for partnerships between the private sectors of both countries.

Hernandez stressed that Kuwait-Spain relations transcend their political, economic, and commercial dimensions to include growing cultural and human ties. He pointed to the increasing number of Kuwaiti citizens visiting Spain and investing in its real estate sector, as well as the growing interest of Kuwaiti students in studying at Spanish universities.

He explained that new facilitations regarding Schengen visa procedures have contributed to making the process smoother and faster, thereby enhancing travel and communication between the peoples of the two countries and supporting the consolidation of their cultural and human relations.

On regional issues, the Spanish Ambassador praised Kuwait’s role in supporting moderation, peace, and stability in the region, commending its historical approach to regional mediation, its defense of international law, and its humanitarian contributions on a global scale.

He emphasized that Spain appreciates Kuwait’s positions supporting dialogue and peaceful solutions to conflicts, highlighting the importance of its role in enhancing regional security and stability amid the challenges and rapid developments on the international stage.

Hernandez noted that his country strongly condemned the unjustified attacks targeting Gulf states and vital civilian infrastructure, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and its support for the resolutions submitted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in international forums and organizations.

Regarding Gulf-European relations, Hernandez underscored Spain’s active role in supporting and deepening the strategic partnership between the European Union and the GCC, expressing his anticipation for the convening of the second Gulf-European summit and the translation of high-level understandings and political declarations into practical frameworks that enhance joint cooperation.