Kuwait: UN Founding Anniversary Coincides with Dangerous Developments in the Region

Kuwait confirmed today, Saturday, that this year’s anniversary of the founding of the United Nations coincides with dangerous developments in the Middle East region, while emphasizing that the Organization’s effectiveness is linked to its ability to apply its principles consistently and fairly, free from double standards. This was stated in a statement by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), on the occasion of United Nations Day, observed annually on October 24, which this year coincides with the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the UN.

In this context, Kuwait’s envoy called for the importance of continuing reforms of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to ensure fairer and more effective representation and to enhance its capacity to respond to contemporary crises and challenges. Ambassador Al-Banna stressed that strengthening the role of the United Nations requires maintaining a balance among its pillars of work in the fields of peace and security, development, and human rights, and giving due attention to the priorities of developing countries.

He affirmed that the effectiveness of the United Nations is tied to its ability to apply its principles consistently and fairly, without double standards, clarifying that the protection of civilians, respect for state sovereignty, and enforcement of international law are responsibilities that demand clear positions and concrete measures, thereby enhancing public trust in the Organization.

He noted that this year’s UN anniversary comes amid dangerous developments in the Middle East that cast a shadow over the security, stability, and prospects of the region’s peoples. In this regard, he pointed out that Kuwait and its brotherly states have been subjected to Iranian attacks, which constitute a violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity and target their security and civilian infrastructure, in blatant violation of international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

Kuwait reiterated its condemnation of these attacks and its rejection of any excuses offered to justify them, affirming that respect for state sovereignty, safeguarding security, and protecting the safety of peoples are international obligations that allow for no selectivity or compromise. He also stressed the importance of the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which calls on Iran to immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks and provocations against Gulf states and Jordan, and to fully comply with its international obligations. He affirmed the necessity of the Council assuming its responsibilities to ensure compliance with its resolutions, halt attacks, and prevent their recurrence, thereby preserving peace and security in the region.

Kuwait expressed its commitment to continuing support for diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and resolving conflicts through peaceful means, based on its conviction that regional stability requires respect for the principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and refraining from the use or threat of force. He called for translating these commitments into effective practices that build trust and lay the foundation for relations based on mutual respect.

On the Palestinian issue, Ambassador Al-Banna affirmed that the Palestinian cause remains at the forefront of Kuwait’s concerns, stemming from its principled and steadfast position supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed the necessity of ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, protecting civilians, rejecting forced displacement, and ensuring the safe, sustainable, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, while continuing to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to enable it to carry out its mandate.

Ambassador Al-Bunai reaffirmed Kuwait’s conviction in the pivotal role of the United Nations as the overarching framework for addressing shared challenges, and its firm commitment to supporting the Organization’s efforts and enabling it to fulfill its responsibilities. He emphasized that Kuwait’s foreign policy, since its accession to the United Nations in 1963, has been based on respecting the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, settling disputes by peaceful means, and building bridges of cooperation and dialogue among countries and peoples. He expressed the country’s pride in its steadfast partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and in its contributions to supporting humanitarian and development work and aiding peoples affected by conflicts and disasters. He affirmed that Kuwait will continue to support efforts aimed at alleviating suffering, enhancing resilience, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby contributing to the construction of safer and more stable societies. Ambassador Al-Bunai reiterated Kuwait’s commitment to continuing work with member states to strengthen multilateralism and defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, noting that fulfilling the Organization’s mission is a shared responsibility that requires genuine political will and collective action to translate principles into reality, safeguarding state sovereignty and preserving human dignity. United Nations Day, observed annually on October 24, commemorates the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. Kuwait joined the Organization on May 14, 1963, becoming its 111th member.