Kuwait's Ambassador to New Delhi: 65th Anniversary of Kuwait-India Diplomatic Relations Reflects a Deeply Rooted Journey and Ancient Friendship

Kuwait’s Ambassador to India, Meshal Al-Shammari, affirmed that the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and India, celebrated by both countries this year, embodies a long journey deeply rooted in history and a friendship story whose origins date back six centuries, based on solid, interconnected, and close commercial, social, and humanitarian ties.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Monday, Ambassador Al-Shammari stated that the 65-year trajectory of Kuwait-India relations has charted a path rich in achievements, crowned by the signing of nearly 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding for cooperation across various fields, including politics, defense, economy, trade, investment, education, culture, health, sports, labor, civil aviation, energy, and more.

He added that several agreements and memoranda of understanding are still under review and negotiation between the two sides and will soon come to fruition, contributing to strengthening the strategic partnership in the coming phase, particularly in its economic and commercial dimensions.

He noted that the two countries share deep historical ties, which emerged thanks to communication and trade exchanges via maritime routes, until relations assumed an official character with the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, later reinforced by high-level visits between officials of both countries.

He clarified that continuous exchanges of visits at various levels contributed to the development and growth of bilateral relations across all their dimensions, elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership. This milestone was reached during the historic visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024, reflecting mutual commitment to realizing the aspirations of the two friendly peoples within the framework of national visions for the future, represented by Kuwait Vision 2035 and Viksit Bharat 2047 (Developed India by 2047).

Ambassador Al-Shammari explained that within the framework of this strategic partnership, and driven by a shared commitment to elevate relations to broader horizons, the bilateral trajectory has shown a noticeable upward trend. This is evident in the continuous coordination between the political and economic leaderships of both countries, particularly amid current geopolitical tensions, alongside ongoing political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs, as well as meetings of joint committees and specialized working groups.

He pointed out that these mechanisms contribute to enhancing efforts aimed at achieving mutual benefits from the strategic partnership, with the hope that they will help expand the foundation of the deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries and open new horizons aligned with the demands of the times. This will be achieved through continuing high-level visits, expanding the scope of cooperation, sharing expertise and visions, and strengthening people-to-people ties.

He stated that India is one of Kuwait’s most important trading partners, with Kuwaiti investments in India operating successfully in vital sectors that contribute to the development of the Indian economy and benefit the diversification of income sources for the Kuwaiti economy.

He expressed hope that the coming phase will witness greater flows of Kuwaiti investments into India, and conversely, Indian investments in the Kuwaiti market in sectors that contribute to elevating the national economy. He also noted that Kuwait is among the most important suppliers of oil and gas to India, with its exports covering approximately 5 percent of India’s energy needs.

Ambassador Al-Shammari emphasized that Kuwait Vision 2035 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 present a golden opportunity to develop and expand bilateral cooperation frameworks across various fields, striving to achieve mutual benefits that contribute to fulfilling the aspirations of the peoples of both countries.

From this perspective, he expressed hope for the continuation of Kuwaiti-Indian cooperation, which is built on solid foundations and firm principles, “with the expectation that the coming years will witness further progress, growth, and prosperity in the strategic partnership relations between the two friendly countries.” (End) T.M.