Kuwait City/New Delhi: India and Kuwait on Sunday elevated their ties to Strategic Partnership, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the top Kuwaiti leadership, including the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, even as the two sides inked agreements in the field of defence, sports and cultural exchanges. PM Modi was also conferred with Kuwait’s top award in a sign of the growing of bilateral ties.
The MEA spokesperson in a post on X said:
“A significant step forward: India-Kuwait relations elevated to a ‘Strategic Partnership’!
“PM @narendramodi met HH Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait.
“Discussions focused on exploring ways to take bilateral ties to new heights. PM expressed his gratitude to HH the Amir for the welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait.”
PM Modi said in a post on X: “Excellent meeting with His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
“We discussed cooperation in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT, fintech, infrastructure and security.
“In line with the close relations between our two countries, we have elevated our partnership to a strategic level and I am optimistic that our friendship will flourish further in the future.”
The PM also held talks with the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and with the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah.
The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X:
“A partnership built on shared values and vision.
“PM @narendramodi and HH Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, PM of Kuwait held productive meeting today at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait.
“Both sides exchanged views on a range of bilateral topics with a focus on strengthening economic cooperation.”
On his meeting with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, the PM posted:
“Had a very good meeting with His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait. The discussions covered ways to deepen economic and cultural linkages between our nations.
“We are extremely optimistic about the India-Kuwait Strategic Partnership scaling new heights of success in the times to come.”
The MEA spokesperson in a post said:
“India-Kuwait ties strengthened further!
“PM @narendramodi met HH Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait.
“Both leaders welcomed the elevation of relations to ‘Strategic Partnership’ & discussed various facets of bilateral ties.”
Prime Minister Modi was also decorated with Kuwait’s top honour of Mubarak Al-Kabeer medal in appreciation for his role in boosting the good ties between Kuwait and India.
The honour was bestowed on PM Modi by the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in a ceremony held at Bayan Palace
The bilateral agreements reached included:
MoU between India and Kuwait on Cooperation in the field of Defence.
This MoU will institutionalize bilateral cooperation in the area of defence. Key areas of cooperation include training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, cooperation in defence industry, supply of defence equipment, and collaboration in research and development, among others.
Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between India and Kuwait for the years 2025-2029.
The CEP will facilitate greater cultural exchanges in art, music, dance, literature and theatre, cooperation in preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the area of culture and organizing of festivals.
Executive Programme (EP) for Cooperation in the Field of Sports (2025-2028)
The Executive Programme will strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of sports between India and Kuwait by promoting exchange of visits of sports leaders for experience sharing, participation in programs and projects in the field of sports, exchange of expertise in sports medicine, sports management, sports media, sports science, among others.
Kuwait’s membership of International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The International Solar Alliance collectively covers the deployment of solar energy and addresses key common challenges to the scaling up of use of solar energy to help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories.
UNI
