Kuwait: Necessity of keeping outer space a domain for peace, international cooperation, and sustainable development

Kuwait reaffirmed on Friday the necessity of keeping outer space a domain for peace, scientific progress, and international cooperation, accessible to all countries without discrimination regardless of their scientific or economic development levels, calling for ensuring the peaceful and sustainable use of space to serve the common interests of all humanity. This was stated in Kuwait’s statement delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Mohammed Al-Mulla before the United Nations General Assembly during the discussion of Agenda Item 48, titled “International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.”

Al-Mulla reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, particularly the principle that the exploration and use of outer space must be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries. He expressed Kuwait’s pride in its membership in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) since 2021 and its dedication to supporting the Committee’s efforts to enhance international cooperation and the peaceful and sustainable use of space.

Al-Mulla outlined Kuwait’s journey in space activities, highlighting the successful launch of the first Kuwaiti satellite, KACST-1 (KuwaitSat-1), in January 2023, as part of a national capacity-building initiative led by Kuwait University and supported by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). He added that the announcement in September 2024 of the establishment of the National Center for Space Research, initiated by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, marked an important step toward strengthening national capabilities in space research, education, and technological innovation.

He noted Kuwait’s accession in March 2026 to the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), represented by the National Center for Space Research, reflecting the growing scope of its participation in international scientific cooperation.

Regarding space applications, Al-Mulla explained that the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research employs remote sensing technologies and data derived from satellites in environmental studies, including monitoring climate change, sandstorms, and marine and terrestrial environments. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of outer space activities amid challenges related to space debris and orbital congestion, reaffirming Kuwait’s support for enhancing international coordination and implementing UN guidelines to preserve a safe and sustainable space environment.

Al-Mulla called for intensified international efforts to support developing countries through capacity-building programs, technical assistance, and the strengthening of scientific partnerships and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in education and modern space technologies.