Foreign Minister receives EU High Representative’s message on strategic partnership

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya received on Wednesday the Ambassador of the European Union to Kuwait, H.E. Anne Koistinen, who delivered a written message from Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting reviewed the strong ties between Kuwait and the European Union and explored ways to strengthen the existing partnership across various fields.

In a separate statement released by the European Union Embassy in Kuwait, Ambassador Koistinen expressed the EU’s keen interest in building a strong, ambitious, and fruitful strategic partnership with Kuwait. She stressed that such a partnership would benefit both parties and help foster peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

The ambassador highlighted upcoming events, including the ministerial meeting between the EU and the GCC, and a joint business forum to be hosted by Kuwait later this year.

Ambassador Koistinen described the current period as a historic moment in EU-Gulf relations, as both sides aim to deepen their cooperation. She noted that on July 18, the EU member states agreed to launch negotiations with each of the six GCC countries, including Kuwait, to establish bilateral strategic partnership agreements.

These agreements are intended to serve as comprehensive frameworks for cooperation on foreign policy, security, trade, investment, energy, climate, digital transformation, education, research, innovation, and cultural exchange.

The initiative stems from the Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership with the Gulf issued in 2022 and reaffirmed during the first EU-GCC summit in Brussels in October 2024. The agreements will be tailored to each Gulf country’s unique context and priorities.

The European Union hopes for a positive response from all GCC members, including Kuwait, to move forward with negotiations. The agreements are expected to complement ongoing EU-GCC frameworks, such as discussions on a regional free trade agreement.

Separately, Foreign Minister Al-Yahya also received a copy of the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Kuwait, Yerzhan Ilykiev, during a ceremony at the Ministry’s General Diwan.

Al-Yahya wished Ambassador Ilykiev success in his new role and expressed hope for further development of the friendly relations between Kuwait and Kazakhstan.