Spanish Ambassador lauds Kuwait’s commitment to international law

• His Excellency Manuel Hernández Gamallo, Spain’s new ambassador to Kuwait, said that about 150,000 people traveled from Kuwait to Spain in 2023, with Kuwaitis leading Gulf citizens in real estate investments there.

• The ambassador said King Philip’s visit to Kuwait last December was a distinctive sign of the brotherly relations between their royal families.

• Ambassador Gamallo plans to boost cooperation on joint investments, expecting a joint economic committee to meet in Kuwait next year, and aims to reestablish direct flights between Kuwait and Madrid by 2025, complementing the current route to Barcelona.

His Excellency Manuel Hernández Gamallo, Spain’s new ambassador to Kuwait, emphasized the strong ties between the two nations, highlighting that their relationship is rooted in shared values and cultural similarities.

In his speech during the celebration of the Spanish National Day, attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Meshaal, and numerous heads of diplomatic missions, H.E. Manuel Hernández Gamallo praised the State of Kuwait as a strong defender of international law and a significant contributor to humanitarian issues in the Middle East and beyond. He extended best wishes to Kuwait for a successful tenure as the rotating chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council next year.

Distinctive sign of the brotherly relations

He noted that King Philip’s visit to Kuwait last December, to offer condolences on the death of former Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, was a distinctive sign of the brotherly relations between their royal families.

He pointed out that the political consultations between the deputy foreign ministers of the two countries, held last July in Kuwait, represented a recent development at the diplomatic level. Over the years, Spain and Kuwait have signed agreements and memorandums of understanding regarding economic cooperation, infrastructure, transport, and tourism.

Spanish companies eager to contribute to Kuwait’s progress and prosperity

The ambassador emphasized the eagerness of Spanish companies to contribute to Kuwait’s progress and prosperity in various fields, including civil infrastructure, energy, water management, high-speed railway systems, transportation, health, food security, defense, maritime capabilities, communications, radar detection, and other areas outlined in Vision 2035.

He noted his intention to stimulate cooperation between relevant bodies in the realm of joint investments, anticipating that a joint economic committee will convene in Kuwait next year, which will certainly facilitate progress in these areas. He stated, “We are confident that our cooperation with Kuwait will increase in the coming years.”

The ambassador mentioned that approximately 450 Spaniards currently reside in Kuwait, forming an integrated community involved in education, business, sports, health, engineering, and other sectors.

He also highlighted that around 150,000 people traveled from Kuwait to Spain in 2023, stressing that among Gulf citizens, Kuwaitis lead in investments in the real estate sector in Spain.

He expressed his aspiration to reestablish direct flights between Kuwait and Madrid by 2025, which would complement the existing direct route between Kuwait and Barcelona.

Regarding the occasion, Ambassador Gamallo stated that Spain is one of the oldest nation-states in the world, with a history of union spanning more than five centuries between countries with different languages and cultural characteristics, which has strengthened our common national identity.

He added that Spain also shares a historical link with the Arab world. The Arab heritage is embedded in our language, history, and cultural legacy. This historic bond forms the foundation of the good relations that Spain has consistently maintained with Arab countries, independent of political changes and historical emergencies.

He pointed out that in the face of bleak visions of a clash of civilizations and pessimistic speculations about a chaotic world ruled by the law of the strongest, Spain advocates for the common coexistence of civilizations, the rule of international law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

He remarked that we live in a world facing serious challenges. In Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and other parts of the globe, Spain defends peace based on relevant United Nations resolutions.

There can be no double standards in the pursuit of peace

He stressed that in the pursuit of peace, there can be no double standards. On May 28, Spain—along with other like-minded countries—recognized Palestine as a state and a member of the United Nations, taking an irreversible step toward a two-state solution.

Spain is located at the crossroads of different cultural regions

He stated that Spain is located at the crossroads of different cultural regions, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between the Old World and the New World, and between North and South. Being “at the crossroads” is not just a geographical concept; it also holds significance in our foreign policy and diplomacy.