Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad: A Lover of the Arabs Alone

I write about experiences from the past that I lived through during a period spanning more than half a century, which I spent in close proximity to the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This period began in January 1964 and continued until his death, across various locations. The first step was taken in January 1964, and the path of responsibilities he assumed as Minister of Foreign Affairs remained consistent. The relationship continued until his passing in 2020. May God have mercy on him. He was committed to his convictions, dedicated to preserving Kuwait’s security, optimistic about Arab support for Kuwait’s sovereignty, and deeply invested in linking Kuwait’s destiny with this Arab embrace. He volunteered to embark on the horse of Arab solidarity, presiding over the Arab Committee for Achieving Clarity and Unity of Arab Stance, considering this role the best mechanism for preventing division within the Arab world. This conviction regarding the unity of positions did not waver; he moved toward achieving it, first as a minister, then as Prime Minister, and later as Emir, until his transition to God’s mercy in 2020.

The opportunity to join him as Director of his Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to me in early 1964. I remained in the office until my transfer to New York as Permanent Representative in 1971, maintaining contact with him and attending the conferences he chaired. I fortified his faith in Arab fraternity, linking Kuwait’s destiny with the unified Arab spirit, which was keen on Kuwait’s security and safety. From this spirit, his message evolved into achieving a pure formula for building an influential and unified Arab stance. With this high sense, reflecting his appreciation for the Arab role in protecting Kuwait, his role became one of maintaining the effectiveness of Arab political convergence, coupled with his willingness to participate in all efforts that realize the dream of emerging as a cohesive Arab nation safeguarding the principles embodied in the Arab League Charter, both security-wise and economically and strategically.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad was not surprised that his call for fraternity meant bearing the burdens of unity and reaching the responsibility of achieving Arab consensus free from individual opportunistic tendencies. To achieve this goal, a phase began in his travels between Arab capitals, transcending differences and arriving at a unity of Arab understanding. I attended his meetings with the late King Faisal, and his meetings with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and I recorded the minutes of those meetings, as well as others with Arab heads of state. He was a martyr in his efforts, objective in his objectives, aware of the thorns on the path, and driven to reach unprecedented heights of cooperation and solidarity among Arab states. This spirit reflected that Arab drive which Sheikh Sabah believed in and was determined to volunteer to achieve.

I write this article in August 2026, about events that took place in 1966, which began in its early months and ended in June 1967, with the Arab defeat in the 1967 war. The noble aspiration that Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad believed in was not fulfilled, because Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser rejected the proposal submitted by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad to meet with King Faisal on Kuwaiti soil, and he was harsh in his wording. Then came the 1967 defeat, leading Arab leaders to meet in Khartoum. I was with the Kuwaiti delegation, observing Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser meeting with King Faisal during the conference, sad at heart, hoping that God would renew the aspiration to return to the days of old. The conference produced positions far removed from reality, which not everyone adhered to. Those seeking a solution without illusions moved beyond them, and peace was achieved with Jordan and Egypt, and an understanding with the PLO. Priorities shifted, and mediation efforts turned toward liberating Arab territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war, as Arab opposition to peace agreements with Israel faded, and Arabs accepted the realities born from the 1967 defeat. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad did not abandon the mission he believed in: uniting Arabs to support a unified Arab stance. His efforts expanded to include major powers, which the UN Charter grants a special role in addressing regional situations, which emerged with the Arab defeat and Israel’s occupation of more Arab territories.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad remained steadfast in his efforts toward major powers, explaining the Arab situation and calling on influential states to realize the Arab position on the necessity of Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in the 1967 war. I recorded the minutes of those historic meetings. The Arab situation was summarized in the demand for Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories occupied in the 1967 war. The meeting between Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad and US President Lyndon B. Johnson took place in Washington in September 1967, during the period of the UN General Assembly session convened to discuss the situation in the Middle East in light of the 1967 war results. I was present at the meeting between Sheikh Sabah and US President Johnson. It was devoid of pleasantries, and President Johnson’s position was cold in his criticism of Arab stances, accusing Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser of sabotaging an agreement reached between the United States, Israel, and Egypt in 1957, which achieved Israel’s withdrawal from Egyptian territories occupied in 1956. President Johnson added in his remarks, expressing astonishment at the Arab stance supporting President Nasser in sabotaging an agreement that the United States had exerted effort to reach during President Eisenhower’s administration in 1957. I do not forget his words, which expressed his frustration, saying: “You Arabs are complaining now, while none of you objected to Nasser’s behavior, which destroyed a historic agreement reached among the three countries and achieved Israel’s withdrawal from Egyptian territories.”

The meeting was cold and confusing. President Johnson placed the blame on Arab states, accusing them of failing to appreciate the risks that would emerge from that negative stance. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad returned to New York after an unpleasant meeting with the US President. The memory of that meeting remains in the course of my memories, appreciating the magnanimity of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, and marveling at his martyrdom toward goals whose path was harsh and filled with thorns.