Kuwait: The Voice of Wisdom and Moderation
The statement delivered by Kuwait before the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly, presented by His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, on behalf of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was comprehensive, compelling, and revealing. It illuminated the wisdom of Kuwaiti policy, which draws lessons from historical events while remaining firmly grounded in reality, using both as a foundation to guide the present and illuminate the path to the future. Through these words, the Crown Prince conveyed Kuwait’s message to the world: that Kuwait has been, and will remain, a voice of wisdom and moderation, supporting dialogue, cooperation, and openness, standing for justice, and partnering in consolidating international peace and security.
His Highness was successful in enumerating, for the world to see and hear, indisputable facts and principles agreed upon by rational minds. Foremost among these is the assertion 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, safeguarded by the rule of law, and protected by the principles of international legitimacy.” A thoughtful and conscious reading of the substance of Kuwait’s statement confirms its steadfast adherence to its well-known approach, characterized by moderation in position, clarity in principle, a commitment to peace, and reliance on international law.
Anyone who examines the structure and meaning of the statement will find it carried a clear message, summarized by the idea that a state’s strength lies not only in its ability to defend itself, but also in its capacity to defend justice and respect the law. It is not hidden from any observer that this message derives its importance from the uniqueness of Kuwait’s experience; Kuwait is a country that has known the meaning of peace, but also the harshness of aggression. Therefore, its discourse on security, sovereignty, and peace is not theoretical, but stems from a nation that has personally experienced the cost of conflict and knows that peoples bear the greatest burden when the language of force overrides the language of reason.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the Crown Prince’s statement was that it did not employ ambiguous or vague language. Instead, it presented Kuwait’s position with complete clarity regarding issues affecting the region, while simultaneously maintaining a wide space for dialogue, mediation, and peaceful solutions. Regarding the brutal attacks suffered by Kuwait, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Jordan at the hands of the Iranian regime, the position was revealed in an interpretation-proof manner, affirming Kuwait’s and its sisters’ right to defend their sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and their firm rejection of targeting civilian objects and vital infrastructure, along with the resulting human casualties and material and economic damages. Nevertheless, the clarity of Kuwait’s position did not translate into a call to close the door to settlement; rather, it emphasized support for diplomatic efforts and mediations aimed at de-escalation and achieving a peaceful solution. It called for regional understandings based on good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and refraining from the use or threat of force.
With sagacity and conscious diplomacy, the Crown Prince focused on the fact that adherence to justice does not mean abandoning wisdom, and that defending security does not mean rejecting peace. He reaffirmed that Kuwait’s foreign policy is based on good neighborliness and the settlement of disputes through peaceful means. An important point in the statement was the clear call for reforming the Security Council to make it more representative, effective, and transparent. This call carries a significant implication: international institutions cannot remain static while the world around them changes rapidly; therefore, they must be reformed and strengthened to better represent the international reality and handle crises.
Regarding Gulf security, the Crown Prince spoke with complete transparency, stating that the security of the Arabian Gulf is not merely a local concern for its states, but is directly linked to the global economy, trade, and energy movements. Hence, he emphasized the importance of guaranteeing freedom and safety of navigation and the right of transit in vital waterways, considering this an integral part of the international system of security and stability. Undoubtedly, this approach reflects an awareness of the nature of the contemporary world, based on the premise that preserving Gulf security serves not only the peoples of the region, but also global economic stability.
Another important aspect of the statement concerned the brotherly Republic of Iraq. His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled noted that Iraq’s stability and prosperity represent a shared interest for Kuwait and the entire region. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of resolving outstanding files between the two countries in accordance with international law. It is certain that this combination of brotherhood and friendship on one hand, and legal realism on the other, reflects maturity in managing relations between sisterly and friendly states; strong relations do not mean ignoring outstanding issues, nor does the existence of files requiring resolution mean turning them into permanent disputes.
As evident from the statement, Kuwait wishes to view its relationship with Iraq through the window of a stable, secure, and prosperous country, based on bilateral relations founded on cooperation, good neighborliness, and shared interests. As expected, the Palestinian issue held an important place in the statement, reflecting Kuwait’s steadfast position regarding Palestinian rights and the necessity of achieving a just, comprehensive, and permanent peace. The statement emphasized the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Here, Kuwait’s message appears consistent with its declared, constant policies: that peace requires justice to protect everyone’s rights and safeguard all entitlements.
Since the statement was comprehensive and all-encompassing, it encapsulated a complete philosophy of security and stability when the Crown Prince affirmed that: “There is no security without development, and no development without security.” This phrase transcends its literal meaning by placing development at the heart of the concept of national and regional security. A society seeking security needs a strong economy, job opportunities, education, health, infrastructure, and effective institutions. Conversely, development cannot flourish in a turbulent environment lacking security and stability.
On the domestic front, the statement did not separate Kuwait’s foreign policy from its internal developmental trajectory. It affirmed the continuation of implementing “Vision 2035,” diversifying the economy, accelerating developmental projects, digital transformation, empowering youth and women, and developing legislation to enhance governance and transparency.
In summary, we say that the Crown Prince’s statement, in its entirety, reflects the personality by which Kuwaiti diplomacy has been known for decades: calm without hesitation, clear without recklessness, and firm in defending rights without closing the door to dialogue. This is not an easy equation in a highly polarized world. Kuwait’s statement carried clear messages, the most prominent being: we are for peace, but not at the expense of rights; we are for dialogue, but not at the expense of the law; we are for cooperation, but we hold fast to sovereignty; and we are open to the world, but while preserving our constants and national interests. This equation may be one of the most distinctive features of the Kuwaiti discourse, which believes that dialogue can be stronger than conflict, and wisdom more impactful than noise.
Overall, the statement was truly the voice of Kuwait as the world knows it: a calm yet clear voice, diplomatic and firm in its commitment to peace, yet conscious of its rights; open to the future, yet not forgetting the lessons of the past. May God Almighty protect Kuwait, with its wise and conscious leadership, and its people, whose resolve and unity around the torch of sovereignty, security, and stability only grow stronger in the face of adversity.
