Prince's Representative: Kuwait will remain a voice of wisdom and moderation, supporting dialogue
The representative of His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, may God protect and preserve him, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, may God protect him, stated that the State of Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have been subjected since last February to a heinous Iranian aggression using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, despite not being parties to the ongoing conflict in the region, in a clear violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter.
This was stated in the address delivered by the representative of His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, may God protect and preserve him, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, may God protect him, at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the headquarters of the international organization in New York. The text of the address is as follows:
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Your Excellency, the President of the General Assembly,
Your Excellency, the Secretary-General,
Majesties, Royal Highnesses, Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings.
First, I am pleased to convey to you the greetings of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and preserve him, and his wishes for the success of the work of this session. We congratulate Your Excellency, Dr. Khalil Mahmud, and the friendly People’s Republic of Bangladesh on his election as President of the General Assembly, and we affirm our support for Your Excellency and his wise choice of the theme for this session: “Restoring Trust and Managing Change: A United Nations that Delivers for All.”
We also express our gratitude to Her Excellency Ms. Annelie Birger for the commendable efforts she made during her presidency of the previous session. We would also like to commend the Secretary-General’s efforts, initiatives, and endeavors to strengthen multilateral international cooperation, such as the UN80 initiative, the Pact for the Future, and the ongoing efforts to address global challenges and crises, including conflicts and wars, climate change, and terrorism, as well as assisting member states in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing international cooperation on artificial intelligence. We hope that these efforts will continue after the end of the Secretary-General’s term at the end of this year, ensuring the continuity of work to reform and develop the organization’s bodies, activate its role, and elevate its performance in fulfilling its responsibilities.
In this context, we affirm that the reform of the Security Council—the body tasked with maintaining international peace and security—has become a necessity to keep pace with the significant increase in the number of member states and the changes that have occurred in international relations since the organization’s establishment. There is an urgent need for the Council to be more representative, effective, and transparent in the performance of its responsibilities.
Mr. President, the State of Kuwait, the GCC states, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have been subjected since last February to a heinous Iranian aggression using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, despite not being parties to the ongoing conflict in the region, in a clear violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter.
These brazen attacks—carried out in a systematic and repeated manner—have targeted civilian facilities and vital infrastructure, including Kuwait International Airport, power and water stations, and oil facilities, revealing an adversarial approach aimed at disrupting the essentials of life and critical infrastructure. These heinous attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of several individuals and innocent civilians, caused numerous injuries, and inflicted severe material and economic damage.”
In furtherance of its efforts to inflict harm on the economies of regional and global states, and to impact global trade and oil markets, Iran is obstructing maritime navigation and closing the Strait of Hormuz, using it as a lever of pressure in the war in violation of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In this regard, the State of Kuwait expresses its profound appreciation to the sister and friendly countries that have stood by it and shown solidarity with it, as well as to the countries that sponsored Security Council Resolution 2817 and other international resolutions issued by the Human Rights Council and the International Maritime Organization, which condemned the Iranian aggression as a threat to international peace and security, called for its cessation, affirmed the inherent right of states to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and underscored the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation without condition.
Guided by its conviction that the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf region constitute a fundamental pillar of regional and international security and stability—a reality highlighted by the repercussions of the war and Iranian attacks—the State of Kuwait renews its support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and reaching a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. It commends the efforts and mediation led by the sister State of Qatar and the friendly Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and affirms the necessity of reaching sustainable regional understandings based on a firm commitment to the principles of good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, the renunciation of the use of force or threat thereof, the cessation of support for proxies and militias, and addressing the security concerns of all regional states, including the Iranian nuclear file, ballistic missiles, and drones, while ensuring freedom and safety of navigation and the right of passage through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
Mr. President: The State of Kuwait, in its foreign policy, is committed to and guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the principles of good neighborliness, respect for state sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs. From this perspective, the State of Kuwait views the sister Republic of Iraq as a neighbor with whom it shares close ties, and as a partner in security and stability. Since the fall of the former regime in 2003, Kuwait has been keen to support Iraq and stand by it in facing security, political, and economic challenges, in order to help it restore its regional and international role and standing, believing that a stable, secure, and prosperous Iraq is a shared interest for Kuwait and the entire region.
In this context, the State of Kuwait commends the steps taken by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Ali al-Zaidi, to consolidate the monopoly of the state over weapons and to strengthen Iraq’s bilateral relations with neighboring countries. We look forward to enhancing confidence-building measures between the two countries, expanding bilateral relations into broader horizons, and resolving all outstanding issues between them, foremost among which is the completion of the demarcation of the maritime boundary beyond Marker 162 in accordance with the rules of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, and adhering to the bilateral security and technical agreements and understandings signed between the two countries, including the Agreement on the Regulation of Maritime Navigation in Khawr Abdullah and the 2008 Security Exchange Protocol, given their role as legal and practical instruments for regulating navigation, protecting the environment, combating terrorism and illicit trafficking in weapons and drugs, and enhancing shared security.
The State of Kuwait calls upon Iraq to cooperate with the Secretary-General’s High-Level Representative in implementing Security Council Resolution 2792 to achieve progress and the desired results in uncovering the fate of Kuwaiti prisoners of war and missing persons, nationals of third countries, and Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives.
Mr. President, the State of Kuwait reaffirms its principled and steadfast position condemning the ongoing violations by the Israeli occupation forces against the brotherly Palestinian people, who continue to suffer under difficult living conditions due to policies of displacement, arrests, and settlement expansion. We call for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Plan and its subsequent phases, as adopted by the Security Council in Resolution 2803, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Strip, while affirming that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
In this regard, we welcome the measures and decisions taken by the United Kingdom, France, and a number of other countries to condemn settlement activities, impose sanctions on settlers involved in acts of violence and terrorism against Palestinians, and ban the import of goods and products from the settlements.
The State of Kuwait affirms that achieving just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region remains contingent upon ending the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate, inalienable rights, and establishing an independent Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Mr. President, the brotherly Republic of Yemen is witnessing a dangerous military escalation resulting from attacks launched by the Houthi group in several governorates and areas along the western coast, threatening navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In this regard, the State of Kuwait reaffirms its full support for the efforts led by the United Nations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable, Yemeni-led settlement in accordance with the three agreed-upon references and the relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216. The State of Kuwait affirms that any political settlement must safeguard Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, put an end to the suffering of its brotherly people, and open prospects for security, stability, and economic development. We emphasize the importance of safeguarding the security and safety of international maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
We also condemn in the strongest terms the attacks by the Houthi group on the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which targeted civilian and economic facilities in several cities. In this context, we affirm that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Mr. President, the State of Kuwait reaffirms its solidarity with the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic and welcomes the steps and measures taken by the international community to lift sanctions against Syria and remove its name from the list of states sponsoring terrorism. We also affirm our support for all efforts aimed at rebuilding state institutions and advancing a comprehensive and inclusive political process under Syrian leadership, with the effective participation of all components of the Syrian people, in a manner that meets their legitimate aspirations for security, stability, and dignified living. In the same context, we emphasize the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and the unity and territorial integrity of its land, and we condemn and reject the attacks and incursions by Israeli occupation forces into Syrian territory, which constitute a dangerous escalation and a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, and undermine security and stability in the region.
Regarding the sister Republic of Lebanon, the State of Kuwait affirms the importance of the Lebanese state institutions and the necessity of enabling them to exercise their full authority over all its territory, and to confine weapons to the state alone, thereby reinforcing Lebanon’s sovereignty and preserving its security and stability. In this regard, it also underscores the importance of maintaining an independent international presence along the Blue Line to ensure the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. We renew our call for Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories.
With regard to the developments in the Republic of Sudan, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the State of Libya, we affirm the necessity of adhering to peaceful solutions and engaging in political dialogues to resolve disputes in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the rules of international law, thereby ensuring the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of these sister states.
Mr. President: Since its independence, the State of Kuwait has established its foreign policy on solid principles of moderation, balance, a steadfast commitment to the United Nations Charter and international law, support for international multilateral cooperation, and the belief that dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes are the optimal means of safeguarding international peace and security. The State of Kuwait also believes in the complementary relationship between security and development: there is no security without development, and no development without security.
Guided by this vision, Kuwait has embodied its developmental and humanitarian diplomacy through the pioneering role of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development), which, since 1961, has contributed to financing development projects in 107 countries around the world. This reflects the conviction that addressing the root causes of crises cannot be limited to security approaches alone, but requires supporting development programs, providing the prerequisites for a dignified life, and building communities that are more resilient and stable.
On the national front, Kuwait is confidently advancing toward the realization of the Kuwait Vision 2035 by accelerating the implementation of development projects, diversifying its economy and sources of income, continuing its digital transformation, empowering women and youth, developing its legislative framework, and entrenching governance and transparency. These efforts enhance institutional efficiency and economic competitiveness, and consolidate Kuwait’s position as a leading financial, commercial, and cultural hub in the region.
In conclusion, my country has known the harshness of occupation and the bitterness of aggression, and has suffered from the wars that have ravaged our region for four decades. From this experience, we have come to realize that it is peoples who pay the price of conflicts, and we have recognized the importance of the world standing united in defense of justice and adherence to the principles of the Charter and international law. From the crucible of that experience, we have developed a firm conviction that peace is a stance dictated by wisdom and protected by capability; that dialogue does not diminish rights but preserves them; and that security is not guarded by force alone, but is entrenched by justice, upheld by the rule of law, and protected by the principles of international legitimacy.
The message of the State of Kuwait, which it has upheld in word and deed and will continue to adhere to, is that “just peace is the path to stability, and that respect for state sovereignty, the protection of the rights of peoples, and recourse to international law in resolving disputes are indispensable pillars for the security and stability of states.” The State of Kuwait will remain, as the world has come to know it, a voice of wisdom and moderation, supporting dialogue, cooperation, and openness to partnerships that achieve shared interests and mutual benefits. It stands as a champion of justice and a partner in consolidating international peace and security, believing that peace is the path to a future in which rights are protected, homelands are stable, and generations enjoy security and prosperity.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
