Kuwait, India agree to strengthen defense ties across key areas
. . . hold first Joint Defense Committee meeting in New Delhi with focus on training and military exercises; opens new cooperation opportunities
Kuwait and India have agreed to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation across several key areas, including military training, joint exercises, military medicine, defense industries, and research and development. The agreement was reached during the first meeting of the Kuwait-India Joint Defense Committee, held in New Delhi on Friday, marking an important step in advancing defense relations between the two countries.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Defence, the meeting focused on implementing the objectives outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in December 2024.
The meeting was co-chaired by Indian Defence Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Raed Al-Sakran, who led the five-member Kuwaiti delegation. The Indian delegation included senior representatives from the country’s three armed forces, the Defence Production Administration, the Defence Research and Development Organisation, the Armed Forces Medical Services, and the Ministry of External Affairs.
As part of his visit, Brigadier General Raed Al-Sakran laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi in honor of India’s fallen soldiers. The Kuwaiti delegation also held discussions with representatives of India’s defense industry to explore potential areas for cooperation and identify opportunities to further strengthen defense ties between the two countries.
Kuwait and India have maintained longstanding and friendly relations rooted in historical ties. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1962 and were elevated to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kuwait.
The relationship has continued to expand, supported by longstanding trade links, shared cultural connections and the presence of a large Indian community in Kuwait. These factors have contributed to the development of broad and multifaceted relations between the two countries across political, economic, cultural and strategic fields.
