Ambassador Meshal Al-Shammar: Kuwait-India Relations Are a Long Journey Rooted in Ancient History

This year (2026), the State of Kuwait and the Republic of India celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations, which began in 1961. This milestone embodies a long journey deeply rooted in history, reflecting a friendship whose origins trace back six centuries, built on enduring, interconnected, and close commercial, social, and humanitarian ties.

Over the past 65 years, the trajectory of bilateral relations has been marked by significant achievements, culminating in the signing of nearly 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering various fields, including politics, defense, economy, trade, investment, education, culture, health, sports, labor, civil aviation, energy, and more. Additionally, several agreements and MoUs are currently under review and negotiation between the two sides and are expected to be finalized soon. These instruments will contribute to strengthening the strategic partnership in the coming phase, particularly in its economic and commercial dimensions.

Historical ties between the two countries, forged through maritime trade and exchange, evolved into formal diplomatic relations. These relations were further strengthened by high-level visits between officials of both nations. Notable visits include that of Dr. Zakir Husain, then Vice President of India, to Kuwait in 1965; the visit of the late Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God have mercy on him) to India in September 1980; the visit of the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981; the visit of the late Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God have mercy on him) to India in 2006; and the visit of the late Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to India in November 2013.

These successive high-level exchanges at various levels have contributed to the development and growth of bilateral relations across all dimensions, elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership. This milestone was achieved during the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024, reflecting the mutual commitment to realizing the aspirations of both friendly peoples within the framework of national visions for the future, namely “Kuwait Vision 2035” and “Viksit Bharat 2047” (Developed India by 2047).

Within the framework of this strategic partnership, and driven by a shared commitment to broadening the scope of relations, 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, as well as in ongoing political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs and meetings of joint committees and specialized working groups. These mechanisms contribute to enhancing efforts aimed at realizing mutual benefits from the strategic partnership.

It is hoped that this partnership will expand the foundation of the deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries and open new horizons aligned with contemporary requirements. This will be achieved through the continuation of high-level visits, the expansion of cooperation and the sharing of expertise and visions, as well as the strengthening of people-to-people links.

The Republic of India is one of Kuwait’s most important trading partners. Kuwaiti investments in India are successfully operating in vital sectors that contribute to the development of the Indian economy and benefit the diversification of income sources for the Kuwaiti economy. We hope that the coming phase will witness greater inflows of Kuwaiti investments into India, and, in return, Indian investments in the Kuwaiti market in fields that contribute to elevating the national economy. Kuwait is also among India’s key suppliers of oil and gas, with its exports covering approximately 5% of India’s energy needs.

In another area that has shaped the strong ties between the two countries, namely the health sector, cooperation was significantly enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kuwait provided generous and distinguished humanitarian support to the Republic of India, consisting of large shipments of oxygen cylinders and vital medical supplies via air and sea bridges. These shipments included thousands of oxygen cylinders (more than 2,600 cylinders in the initial stages, followed by subsequent consignments), hundreds of metric tons of medical liquid oxygen (Kuwait committed to supplying around 1,400 metric tons), oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and other urgent medical supplies. The Kuwait Red Crescent Society and the Indian civil society community in Kuwait contributed to enhancing these efforts. This support embodies the highest forms of solidarity and cooperation between the two friendly countries, turning the proverb “A friend in need is a friend indeed” into both words and deeds.

In return, an Indian medical team visited Kuwait in April 2020 to support Kuwaiti medical authorities in confronting the pandemic. Additionally, in February 2021, the Republic of India sent 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Kuwait. At that time, the Kuwaiti Cabinet expressed its solidarity with India in facing the pandemic’s repercussions, conveying its deep gratitude for the generous support provided by the Indian government to mitigate the impacts of the coronavirus. The Indian government, in turn, expressed its appreciation for Kuwait’s generous contributions, recalling with gratitude the words of appreciation voiced by the Indian government during the COVID-19 pandemic, which reflected the highest meanings of Kuwaiti chivalry and generosity, stating that “the Indian citizen is now breathing Kuwaiti oxygen.”

Kuwait is working to implement “Kuwait Vision 2035,” aiming to position the country as a leading regional hub in institutional, financial, commercial, and cultural fields by 2035. Conversely, the Republic of India seeks to achieve “Viksit Bharat 2047” (Developed India 2047). These two visions present a prime opportunity to develop and expand bilateral cooperation frameworks across various sectors, striving to achieve mutual benefits that meet the aspirations of both peoples.

From this perspective, we look forward to the continuation of Kuwaiti-Indian cooperation based on solid foundations and robust principles, hoping that the coming years will witness further progress, growth, and prosperity in the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries.