Polish Ambassador: Our Partnership with Kuwait Extends Beyond Politics to Defense and Military Education Cooperation

- Poland has contributed to the training and qualification of Kuwaiti military personnel, with 25 Kuwaiti officers graduating last August from the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia. Al-Badr: We are keen to enhance political, defense, military, commercial, and investment cooperation.

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the State of Kuwait, Michal Guliwa, expressed his country’s pride in the historical relations and solid partnership between Poland and Kuwait. He praised Kuwait’s resilience amid the difficult security conditions facing the Middle East region, reaffirming Poland’s full solidarity with Kuwait and its support for Kuwaiti diplomacy aimed at achieving peace and stability.

This came during a ceremony hosted by the Polish Embassy at the Jumeirah Hotel, marking Poland’s National Day and the anniversary of the restoration of its independence. The event was attended by Assistant Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs, Ambassador Najib Al-Badr, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Mushaal, along with a number of ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, and members of the Polish community in Kuwait.

The ambassador noted that Poland celebrates on November 11 the 108th anniversary of the restoration of its sovereignty, emphasizing that freedom is a fundamental value that requires daily preservation and nurturing. He stated that Poland’s historical experience gives it a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the contemporary world.

He commended Kuwait’s balanced stance in dealing with regional developments, noting that Kuwait’s calm and measured diplomacy serves as a beacon under current circumstances. Quoting the Arab proverb, “He who walks with steady steps does not stumble,” he affirmed Poland’s deep respect for Kuwait’s vision and diplomatic approach.

35 Years

The ambassador clarified that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of permanent diplomatic representation of Poland in Kuwait. He pointed out that the Polish Embassy in Kuwait was the first embassy of his country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, representing a crucial milestone in building solid relations between the two countries.

He noted that political relations have seen significant activity this year, including a meeting between His Highness the Crown Prince and the Polish President, as well as important talks held by the foreign ministers of both countries in Ankara. He also mentioned the conclusion of the fifth round of political consultations in Warsaw, attended by the deputies of the foreign ministers.

Defense and Educational Cooperation

The ambassador emphasized that the Kuwaiti-Polish partnership is not limited to the political sphere but extends to practical areas, foremost among them defense and military education cooperation. He expressed his country’s pride in its contribution to training and qualifying Kuwaiti military personnel.

He highlighted the graduation of 25 Kuwaiti officers last August from the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, following intensive academic studies and naval tactical training programs. He praised the graduates’ level and Kuwait’s confidence in Polish military expertise.

The ambassador welcomed the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, the Commander of the Naval Forces, and a delegation of graduating officers, expressing his appreciation for their service and their trust in the competence of Polish military institutions.

Tourism and Direct Flights

On the tourism front, he pointed to growing people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting the increasing interest of Kuwaiti tourists in visiting Poland due to its rich historical and cultural heritage and stunning natural scenery.

He explained that the launch of direct flights between Kuwait and Krakow has contributed to strengthening ties between the two countries, expressing his happiness at the prospect of continuing these flights during the winter season as well, thereby opening broader horizons for tourism and exchange between the two peoples.

Poland as an Emerging Economic Partner

On the economic level, he affirmed

The ambassador stated that Poland possesses a strong economy with positive indicators, noting his country’s accession to the G20 and its participation in the group’s meetings held last week in Atlanta. He regarded this as a reflection of the strength, reliability, and innovative capacity of the Polish economy, as well as growing international confidence in it.

At the conclusion of his speech, the ambassador expressed his appreciation for the Polish diplomatic mission team and all its staff for their efforts in organizing the celebration. He called for celebrating Poland’s journey and its partnership with Kuwait, and wished His Highness the Amir of Kuwait continued health and well-being, and wished the State of Kuwait and its people further prosperity and development, as well as enduring friendship and progress in Polish-Kuwaiti relations.

For his part, Assistant Undersecretary of State for European Affairs Ambassador Najib Al-Badr emphasized the depth and distinction of Kuwaiti-Polish relations across various fields, noting both countries’ commitment to enhancing political, defense, military, commercial, and investment cooperation, and building on past achievements and shared historical milestones.

In a statement to the press on the sidelines of the celebration, Al-Badr said that Kuwait takes pride in its diplomatic relations with the Republic of Poland, which span 63 years, and conveyed his best congratulations and greetings to the Polish leadership, government, and people on this occasion.

He added that political relations between the two countries feature continuous communication and coordination, particularly during the sixth round of political consultations held last September in Warsaw, attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, where several areas of mutual interest and regional and international developments were discussed.

He clarified that cooperation between the two countries also extends to the defense and military fields, particularly in training and qualifying Kuwaiti students at the Polish Naval Academy. He expressed his appreciation for commercial and investment cooperation and his expectation that this aspect will witness a qualitative leap in the coming period.