Mohamed bin Zayed: The Embodiment of Loyalty
The visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Kuwait carried multiple implications, the most significant of which is that it followed the aggression suffered by the country, making it an act of solidarity rather than merely a routine protocol. We are accustomed to our brothers in the United Arab Emirates and the emirs of the sister state always standing firmly by Kuwait’s side. We must not forget the stance of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, in 1990 during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when the UAE opened its hearts and doors to Kuwaitis, and its firm position in participating in the liberation of Kuwait from the clutches of the invaders.
Relations between Kuwait and the UAE are old, deeply rooted, and based on affection, cooperation, and fidelity to commitments. On this basis, the visit of His Highness the President of the UAE to his second homeland, Kuwait, came during the most difficult circumstances, conveying through its president that the UAE stands with Kuwait in times of ease and hardship, that Kuwait’s security is the UAE’s security, and that our destinies are shared.
We are not discussing formalities here, but foundations and principles established long ago, cemented in blood. This is the highest form of fraternal relationship between two brothers. The UAE martyrs who fell on Kuwaiti soil during Operation Desert Storm were a sincere expression of the bond between the UAE and Kuwait.
In this regard, we must not forget that in Kuwait, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally and directly participated, as a young officer at the time, in the 1991 Kuwait Liberation War, as part of the participation of the UAE Armed Forces in coalition operations. This participation meant a great deal to Kuwaitis, who still appreciate that initiative today.
It is not unusual for the UAE, its noble people, and its emirs to demonstrate such loyalty to Kuwait. Therefore, the celebration by sister states of the week “UAE and Kuwait… Brothers Forever” during Kuwait’s national holidays, and the grand event launched to express historical ties with Kuwait, reflect a profound sense of loyalty. This is especially true for those who understand what loyalty to Kuwait means, as Kuwait was once a pillar of support for Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ras Al Khaimah. These seven emirates, now shining in the Gulf sky with modernity and contemporary culture, as well as with warm hearts from the peoples of the entire Gulf region, and Kuwaitis in particular, owe much to that historical bond.
Loyalty was the hallmark of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s swift visit to Kuwait, and solidarity was its highest statement. The princely reception extended by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the political leadership to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, along with the honor accorded to him and his accompanying delegation, reflects the true feelings of the Kuwaiti public and official circles toward the UAE.
