Kuwait first Gulf nation to drive Belgian cars 100 years ago

• His Excellency Christian Dooms, the Belgium ambassador to the country, emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections and trade flows between Belgium and Kuwait.

• Belgium and Kuwait, both members of the Human Rights Council, share a common vision, providing a strong basis for cooperation, highlighted by their participation in the EU-GCC summit in Brussels on October 16, the ambassador said.

• Ambassador Dooms praised the Kuwaiti government for its generous and steadfast humanitarian support to the Palestinian people as well as to the people of Lebanon and Sudan.

His Excellency Christian Dooms, the Belgium ambassador to the country, revealed that Kuwait was the first Gulf country to import Belgian cars a century ago. He noted that in 1911, when camels, horses, and wagons dominated transport, Kuwait received its first car, two years before Bahrain, which imported a Belgian Minerva vehicle.

During his speech at the celebration of the King’s Birthday at the Marina Hotel, attended by Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Mohamed Hayati and numerous heads of diplomatic missions, he highlighted the significant development in relations between the two countries.

280 mines destroyed

He also recalled the Belgian Navy’s participation in demining operations as part of its mission in the International Coalition for the Liberation of Kuwait, during which their fleet discovered and destroyed 280 mines.

“This year marks the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Diplomatic ties between Kuwait and Belgium were officially established in 1963, and in 1964, Ambassador Willie Stevens presented his credentials to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem, becoming the first Belgian Ambassador to Kuwait. In 1985, Kuwait opened its embassy in Belgium,” the ambassador said.

Strengthening people-to-people connections

He emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections and trade flows between Belgium and Kuwait. He added, “To succeed in this endeavor, I must address a significant obstacle: the lack of a direct flight between Brussels and Kuwait,” noting ongoing efforts to resolve this critical issue.

The Belgian ambassador stated that his country and Kuwait share a common vision in many areas, as both nations hold seats on the Human Rights Council. He described this as a promising foundation for close cooperation, referencing their participation in the European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council summit on October 16 in Brussels. This marked the first summit at the level of Heads of State and Government.

Ambassador calls for global attention to civilian suffering in war zones

The ambassador emphasized that the plight of men, women, and children in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and Ukraine deserves full attention, extending thoughts to all civilians suffering from war.

He added that countries like Belgium and Kuwait, having experienced the ordeal of invasion, have a role to play in promoting respect for the United Nations Charter, its principles, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. “In this regard,” he said, “I am confident that Kuwait, with its limited but significant ability to engage with other nations and support peace and dialogue, can achieve much.”

He praised the Kuwaiti government for its generous and steadfast humanitarian support to the Palestinian people as well as to the people of Lebanon and Sudan.

Strong defence and military relations between Belgium and the GCC

For his part, Belgian military attaché Nico Hoornaerthighlighted the strong defense and military relations between Belgium and the GCC countries, including Kuwait, which date back to the 1990s. He noted that Belgian forces participated in the Kuwait Liberation War, leading to a cooperation agreement allowing the presence of these forces in Kuwait by mutual consent.

Hoornaert pointed out, however, that there is currently no military cooperation with Kuwait, explaining that Belgium is a small country with a limited military force, making it difficult to maintain a presence in multiple regions worldwide. He added, “If necessary and there is a need to participate abroad, we will take part.”

Regarding the presence of Belgian military personnel in the Gulf region, he said, “We do not have troops in the region, but we have a military attaché based in Abu Dhabi who represents all GCC countries except the Sultanate of Oman. However, we have cooperation agreements with the GCC countries and support them in case of any emergency.”

Protecting Gulf naval forces

He also highlighted the Belgian Navy’s participation, alongside the European Navy, in the Strait of Hormuz to protect Gulf naval forces.

On the use of Belgian military equipment by Gulf armies, he said: “Yes, but the Kuwaiti army does not possess Belgian military equipment like the Bahraini and Emirati armies. We are working to reach an agreement with the Saudi side on this matter.”

Smurfs Exhibition

“We had planned a Belgian economic mission to Kuwait this year, but for organizational reasons, it has been postponed until April 2025. We also have other projects in progress, such as the Smurfs Exhibition, showcasing these small blue creatures of Belgian origin,” Ambassador Dooms stated.