Al-Zoubah: Kuwait is present in the details of Yemenis' lives
- The relations between the two countries are built on a cumulative record of positions, support, and development.
- The best way to honor the history of the relationship is for people to witness its impact through projects, services, and institutions.
- Schools, hospitals, roads, and projects tell part of the story of Kuwait’s presence in Yemen.
- The Kuwait Fund is a key developmental partner for Yemen, and we look forward to rehabilitating suspended projects.
- Yemen will not serve as a platform to threaten its brothers... Kuwait’s consultations are a milestone highly valued by Yemenis.
- Gulf security also begins with Yemen’s stability... We aspire to a Yemeni state that protects itself and supports regional stability.
Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zoba, affirmed that Kuwait represents a historical partner for Yemen, and that relations between the two countries transcend the circumstances of war and humanitarian aid. Instead, they are rooted in a cumulative record of political stances, mediation, developmental support, and cultural and people-to-people ties, spanning more than six decades of formal diplomatic relations, and preceded by deeper bonds between the two brotherly peoples.
Speaking to media representatives in Kuwait on the sidelines of her official visit, Al-Zoba stated that the visit aims to build upon this legacy and advance it to a more consistent and effective stage, based on expanding political consultations, activating agreements and cooperation frameworks, and enhancing partnership in the fields of development, recovery, and capacity building.
She stressed that “the best way to honor the history of Yemeni-Kuwaiti relations is to add new results that people can feel in an operational service, a completed project, an institution regaining its capacity, and continued political cooperation after the visit ends.”
Al-Zoba noted that Kuwait holds a special place in the Yemeni memory, not only due to its political positions but also because of its direct presence in the daily lives of generations of Yemenis through schools, hospitals, roads, and developmental projects, as well as its cultural and intellectual contributions that left a clear mark through the Kuwaiti press, literature, and culture.
She pointed out that official relations between the two countries span more than six decades, but what unites the two peoples is “deeper than the lifespan of diplomatic representation,” noting that Kuwait was present during stages when Yemen needed development, as well as when it needed dialogue and rapprochement of viewpoints.
She added, “We are not coming to Kuwait to open a new page; the page has been open for a long time. What we want is to write new results in it.”
Al-Zoba praised the entrenched legacy of Kuwaiti diplomacy in supporting dialogue and de-escalation, noting that Kuwait’s role on the Yemen file predates the current crisis by decades, starting from mediation efforts between the two halves of Yemen in the 1970s, up to Kuwait’s hosting of Yemeni political consultations in 2016.
She affirmed that Kuwait’s hosting of those consultations will remain a milestone appreciated by Yemenis, for providing a serious space for dialogue and reflecting a keenness to unite voices, bring viewpoints closer, and support Yemen’s unity, security, and stability.
She emphasized that any political agreement requires, from the outset, clear arrangements for implementation and state institutions capable of protecting what is agreed upon and preventing a return to imposing facts on the ground by force.
She said that the experience of the Kuwait consultations offered an important lesson: that peace cannot be sustained by intentions and formulations alone, but requires institutions capable of implementation and clear answers to issues of arms, sovereign decision-making, access points, and revenues in the post-agreement phase.
On the development front, Al-Zoba affirmed that the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development represents one of Yemen’s oldest and most important development partners, noting that the value of this partnership is measured not only by the volume of financing but also by the continuity of the relationship and its ability to adapt to the difficult conditions the country has endured.
She clarified that cooperation covers vital sectors, including energy, electricity, health, education, roads, water, and vocational training, emphasizing the Yemeni government’s aspiration to build on existing projects and rehabilitate suspended ones before expanding into new commitments, thereby achieving faster impact and safeguarding previous investments.
She pointed out that the maintenance of the Marib Gas Plant, supported by Kuwait, serves as an example of strategic projects whose impact can directly translate into improved services and state capacity.
Regarding investment, Minister Al-Zoba affirmed that Yemen holds significant opportunities in sectors such as energy, water desalination, fisheries, transport, and services, noting that the government is working to develop partnerships with the private sector and improve regulatory frameworks for investment.
She stated that Kuwaiti capital possesses regional expertise and presence that could play a crucial role in the recovery and reconstruction phase, but she stressed that serious discussions on investment must be accompanied by improvements in stability, governance, guarantees, and project clarity.
Al-Zoba emphasized that the link between the Yemeni file and Gulf security is no longer merely a political description, but a reality dictated by geography and experience. She explained that Yemen constitutes the southern extension of the Gulf region, bordering the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden—areas that represent key nodes in international trade, energy, and navigation.
She said that the presence of a stable and capable Yemeni state, exercising its responsibilities over its territory, coasts, ports, and territorial waters, transforms Yemen’s geography into an asset for regional security. Conversely, weakening the state and leaving decision-making and arms outside its institutions turns this same geography into a source of threat that transcends Yemen’s borders.
She stressed that “Yemen will not become a platform to threaten Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or any sister state, and we will not accept our land, ports, or waters being used as leverage in regional conflicts.”
In conclusion, the Yemeni Foreign Minister affirmed that Kuwait holds a special place in the hearts of Yemenis, and its impact in Yemen is not merely a diplomatic record or political memory, but a tangible presence in the lives of entire generations.
She said: “We appreciate the fraternal stance and political, developmental, and humanitarian support provided by the State of Kuwait, its leadership, government, and people. We look forward to cooperation between our two countries being an extension of this legacy, transitioning it to a new stage of practical results.”
She added: “We want the new Yemeni generation to see a new Kuwaiti impact, just as previous generations saw schools, hospitals, roads, and projects. And we want Kuwaitis to see in Yemen a state regaining its capacity, a partner that protects its southern gateway and maritime corridors, and contributes to the security, stability, and prosperity of the Gulf.”
Al-Zoba concluded her message by emphasizing that “a stable Yemen, with a capable state and effective institutions, will not be a burden on its neighborhood; it will be a partner within it, as geography dictates and history requires.”
She clarified that the experience of recent years has shown that the problem lies not in a lack of initiatives, but rather in the absence of commitment to implementation and the exploitation of de-escalation periods to reposition and strengthen military capabilities.
She emphasized that any viable settlement must address the root causes of the conflict, foremost among them restoring state institutions, ensuring the state’s sovereignty over its resources and access points, and its monopoly on the use of force, while preventing the existence of a parallel military authority capable of reverting to power whenever it disagrees with the political trajectory.
She stated that the success of peace lies in transforming armed actors into political ones, rather than turning the state into “just another armed party among multiple factions.”
The Yemeni Foreign Minister renewed her country’s condemnation of Iranian aggression targeting Kuwait and several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Yemen’s full solidarity with its brothers and rejecting any violation of the sovereignty of regional states or threats to their security and stability.
She said Yemen’s stance is based on the principles of respecting state sovereignty, good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, and settling disputes through peaceful means, stressing that the security of Gulf states is interconnected and that protecting regional stability requires a unified response to direct aggression and the use of armed groups to impose facts on the ground that transcend borders.
Regarding whether pressure on Iran could automatically lead to a reduction in the Houthis’ capabilities, Al-Zoba said that external support is a key factor in developing the group’s military capabilities, but reducing the problem solely to external funding does not provide a comprehensive solution.
She clarified that during their years of control, the Houthis built a war economy, internal funding sources, smuggling networks, and taxation systems. Therefore, sustainable resolution requires, in addition to halting external support, the state’s restoration of control over its resources and access points, combating smuggling and illicit financing networks, and preventing the use of the national economy to fund a military project outside state institutions.
In her assessment of the recent escalation, Al-Zoba said that the Houthi group’s actions represent an extension of the coup against state institutions and an attempt to impose a fait accompli by force, but that these actions have long since exceeded the boundaries of the internal conflict, targeting cities, facilities, ports, and maritime navigation, and threatening neighboring states and sea lanes.
She stressed that Iranian military and technical support, along with smuggling networks, have contributed to developing the group’s capabilities and raising the level of threat it poses. She emphasized that confronting this threat requires a broader approach than merely protecting ships at sea, starting with supporting the Yemeni state in controlling its coasts, access points, and resources, and combating smuggling and illicit financing networks.
On assuming the role of Foreign Minister as the first woman to hold this position in Yemen, Al-Zoba said she views the task primarily as a major national responsibility during an exceptional period, not as a symbolic position.
She affirmed that Yemeni women have proven their ability to bear responsibility in administration, development, and public service under the most difficult circumstances, noting that Yemen today needs all its competencies, both men and women, and that the criterion for success should be the ability to serve the state and its citizens and achieve results.
Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Afrah Al-Zoba emphasized the importance of the humanitarian role played by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society in supporting the Yemeni people, praising the association for the assistance and projects it has provided over the years, covering health, education, relief, and humanitarian sectors in Yemen.
Speaking to KUNA news agency during her visit to the association’s headquarters, Minister Al-Zoba said that Kuwaiti efforts in Yemen reflect the deep fraternal and sincere relations between the two countries, and embody Kuwait’s steadfast position in supporting the Yemeni people, especially given the circumstances the country is currently experiencing.
She added that they discussed with the Association ways to expand the scope of humanitarian assistance provided to Yemen and develop existing cooperation to contribute to responding to urgent needs and humanitarian and developmental priorities in the coming phase.
For his part, Yemen’s Ambassador to the country, Dr. Ali Mansour bin Safa, praised Kuwait’s pioneering humanitarian and developmental role and its stance in supporting the Yemeni people, which has extended to various parts of the world, reflecting its firm approach of providing support to peoples without being tied to political or economic interests.
Bin Safa said that the talks held by the Yemeni delegation during its visit to Kuwait reflected the depth of the fraternal relations between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of continuing Kuwaiti support and backing the legitimate government in confronting current challenges. He expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s steadfast position toward Yemen amid various crises.
He added that the discussions covered a number of files of mutual interest, foremost among them supporting economic and developmental projects. They held talks with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to resume support for priority projects, alongside discussing obligations related to loans and the possibility of rescheduling them in light of Yemen’s current circumstances.
For his part, Khaled Al-Mughams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Red Crescent Society, said that Kuwait has always stood by its brothers in Yemen, and that the projects implemented by the Society reflect Kuwait’s firm approach to supporting humanitarian work, which has taken an integrated path combining relief and development.
Al-Mughams clarified that the visit of the Yemeni Foreign Minister and the accompanying delegation provided an opportunity to exchange views on existing humanitarian needs and priorities, and to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the coming phase, reaffirming the Society’s readiness to study proposals and projects that meet the actual needs of local communities, in collaboration and coordination with partner institutions and entities in Yemen.
