Turkish Ambassador: Our Relations with Kuwait Have Reached Strategic Partnership
Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait, Topuz Nur Sonmez, confirmed that Turkish-Kuwaiti relations have undergone a qualitative leap over the past four years, elevating them to the level of a strategic partnership.
In a statement to journalists, Sonmez expressed her pride in the achievements realized across various political, economic, cultural, and defense fronts during her tenure, which she concluded with a farewell ceremony held at her residence on Sunday, attended by a large number of officials, heads of diplomatic missions, and members of society.
She stated that she assumed her duties in Kuwait on June 2, 2022, under the mandate of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, considering the representation of her country before the "brotherly and friendly state" as one of the greatest milestones in her diplomatic career. She added that serving Turkish citizens in Kuwait was a source of pride and happiness for her.
She pointed out that bilateral relations witnessed historic milestones during her tenure, most notably the official visit by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to Turkey. This visit was the first outside the Arab world since he assumed leadership, alongside the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait. Sonmez emphasized that these two visits embodied the shared political will of the leaderships of both countries to elevate relations to the highest levels.
She clarified that the Turkish Embassy organized more than 150 events during her tenure in the fields of culture, arts, education, and trade. The most prominent among these were events held in 2024 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which included art exhibitions, musical concerts, and official receptions.
She noted that the "Mural of Friendship" project in the historic Souq Al-Mubarakiya, along with the publication of a book documenting six decades of Turkish-Kuwaiti relations, formed an important milestone in embodying the shared heritage and enduring friendship between the two peoples. The occasion also saw the organization of archival exhibitions and musical concerts to celebrate this anniversary.
She added that the Embassy also strove to implement environmental awareness programs under the "Zero Waste" initiative launched by Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, with the aim of enhancing environmental awareness and instilling responsibility toward future generations.
On the economic front, she confirmed that trade relations achieved a historic milestone, as the volume of trade between the two countries exceeded the one billion dollar mark for the first time in 2025, recording a growth rate of 52 percent. This reflects the strength of economic ties and the growing cooperation between the business communities of both countries, supported by joint economic councils and forums.
Ambassador Sonmez touched upon cooperation between the two countries in the defense and security sectors, noting that bilateral cooperation witnessed significant development, with the entry of Turkish "Bayraktar TB2" drones into service within the Kuwaiti defense system under a government purchase agreement. She also highlighted the expansion of cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Center under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Asian Cooperation Dialogue.
She expressed her deep gratitude to the Kuwaiti authorities for the support and cooperation provided throughout her tenure. She also thanked the embassy staff, her diplomatic colleagues, and the ambassadors who preceded her in representing Turkey in Kuwait, wishing her successor success in continuing the journey of strengthening bilateral relations.
