Minister of Social Affairs: Our Relations with Turkey are Solid and Evolving

Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs, Labor, and Social Development, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwail, affirmed the strength of Kuwait-Turkey relations and the shared commitment to strengthening ties, expanding the scope of bilateral partnership, and pursuing benefits for both countries that meet the aspirations of their peoples. This statement came during a speech delivered by Al-Huwail on the sidelines of a celebration hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Kuwait, marking the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic. The event was attended by senior officials, heads of diplomatic missions, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the Turkish community in Kuwait.

Al-Huwail conveyed Kuwait’s congratulations, from the leadership, government, and people, to the Republic of Turkey on this national occasion, emphasizing the deep historical ties between the two countries and their continuous development and close cooperation across various fields.

For his part, the newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait, Jan Oguz, affirmed that Kuwait-Turkey relations are rooted in a solid history of friendship, brotherhood, and solidarity. He stressed his country’s commitment to supporting Kuwait’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to continuing to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries across various sectors.

Oguz began his speech by expressing his pride in this national occasion, recalling the proclamation of the Turkish Republic 103 years ago as a historic milestone in the journey of the Turkish people under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who laid the foundations of the Republic on the principles of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. He clarified that Turkey, more than a century after the establishment of its republic, remains steadfast in these principles and continues to operate according to a vision based on an independent, multi-dimensional foreign policy aimed at promoting peace, prosperity, security, and stability at both the regional and international levels.

He noted that Turkey actively contributes to peace, security, and stability efforts, whether through its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or through its cooperation with international institutions, as well as through its initiatives aimed at enhancing regional solutions to challenges facing the region.

Regarding regional developments, Oguz affirmed that Turkey has mobilized its capabilities to support its partners in the Gulf region in maintaining their security. He pointed out that Turkey strongly condemned the attacks targeting Kuwait and reiterated its firm commitment to supporting it. He emphasized that Turkey will continue to stand by its strategic partner, Kuwait, and support its security and territorial integrity, expressing appreciation for the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in those attacks.

Speaking about Kuwait-Turkey relations, Oguz explained that they are based on three main pillars: promising potential, friendship, and partnership. He noted that economic and trade relations between the two countries are rich with wide opportunities for cooperation in multiple sectors, including defense, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and trade. He stressed the importance of leveraging these potentials to expand the horizons of cooperation and achieve common interests, pointing out that defense industries represent one of the promising fields. He added that Kuwait’s acquisition of an advanced Turkish defense system has opened a new chapter in the defense partnership between the two countries and paved the way for expanding cooperation in other sectors.