Kuwait and Germany: 62 Years of Strategic Partnership
The Federal Republic of Germany holds a significant position in Kuwait’s relations with its European partners, underpinned by a long-standing trajectory of political, economic, investment, and cultural cooperation spanning more than six decades. This relationship is rooted in mutual trust and respect, as well as shared interests.
Diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Germany were established on May 20, 1964, and the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of their founding in 2024. In its latest data published in March 2026, the German Federal Foreign Office confirmed that Germany is one of Kuwait’s most important trading partners within the European Union.
Kuwait deeply appreciates the German stance of support during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, which marked a crucial milestone in solidifying political trust between the two countries and their peoples, paving the way for subsequent broad-based cooperation across various fields.
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Relations have gained notable momentum over the past two years, highlighted by the celebration in April 2025 by Kuwait and Germany of the 50th anniversary of the investment partnership between the State of Kuwait and the Mercedes-Benz Group. This partnership, dating back to 1974, reflects the early presence of Kuwaiti investments in the German economy.
His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, representing His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, participated in the ceremony held in Stuttgart.
In October 2025, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic dialogue between their foreign ministries, providing an institutional framework to enhance consultation and coordination in political, economic, security, and other fields.
Economically, bilateral trade reached approximately 1.6 billion euros in 2024, including about 1.2 billion euros in German exports to Kuwait, primarily consisting of automobiles and spare parts, machinery, electrical equipment, and pharmaceutical products. Berlin’s updated 2026 data confirms that Kuwait is among Germany’s most important trading partners within the European Union.
Kuwaiti investments in Germany stand out as one of the key pillars of economic partnership. The cooperation extends beyond trade and investment to include education and culture, under the framework of the Cultural Cooperation Agreement that entered into force in 1989, as well as university-level collaboration between German and Kuwaiti institutions. Additionally, international schools in Kuwait offer educational programs in German.
Germany remains an important destination for Kuwaitis in the fields of healthcare, education, and tourism.
Thus, Kuwait-German relations are advancing toward a new, more structured phase, combining the political legacy dating back to 1964, trade volume nearing 1.6 billion euros, substantial Kuwaiti investments in Germany, and a new strategic dialogue that opens avenues for further cooperation in the economy, energy, technology, security, and education, thereby enhancing the status of both countries as reliable partners in Europe and the Gulf.
Egyptian writer
