The Times Kuwait Report
Kuwait and Italy are working to elevate their longstanding friendship into a more comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthening cooperation across defence, security, trade, investment, technology, education and crisis management, Italian Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Lorenzo Morini has said.
Speaking to the media, Ambassador Morini outlined the outcomes of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Kuwait, describing it as an important milestone in bilateral relations and a reflection of the close political dialogue between the two countries.
He said the visit, which had initially been planned for April but was postponed due to the regional situation, provided an opportunity to reinforce ties at the highest level and establish a practical framework for expanding cooperation in the coming years.
The Italian Prime Minister was received by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait at Bayan Palace, where discussions focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and opportunities to deepen collaboration.
“The main message was that we are brothers,” Ambassador Morini said, emphasising that relations between Kuwait and Italy are founded on mutual respect, friendship and a shared history of supporting one another during difficult times.
He noted that frequent contacts between senior officials, including the two countries’ leaders, foreign ministers, defence establishments and interior ministries, have helped maintain a strong channel of communication.
Action plan sets priorities for 2027–2030
A key outcome of the visit was the adoption of a bilateral action plan covering the 2027–2030 period, designed to translate political commitments into concrete initiatives.
According to Ambassador Morini, the framework identifies several priority areas, including political dialogue, defence and security, technical cooperation, economic relations, investment, digital transformation, agriculture and food-related sectors, public security, judicial cooperation, creative industries, healthcare and education.
He described the action plan as a roadmap for implementing the vision agreed upon by the two countries’ leaders. “The leaders of the two countries have agreed on reinforcing the partnership. It is now up to the ambassadors, technicians and officials to identify the best ways to achieve the objectives they have set,” he explained.
The ambassador said the coming months would involve substantial work to identify projects, coordinate relevant institutions and establish practical mechanisms for implementing the agreed priorities.
Defence and security cooperation
Defence remains an important pillar of Kuwait–Italy relations, with both sides seeking to build on existing arrangements and explore additional areas of collaboration. Ambassador Morini highlighted continuing engagement between the two countries’ defence establishments, including visits by senior officials and military cooperation during the recent regional crisis.
He also referred to a letter of intent signed by Italian defence and aerospace company Leonardo and Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence. He clarified that the document was not a binding contract but an expression of intent to explore and expand cooperation in specified areas.
Leonardo, an Italian state-controlled company, already has a presence in Kuwait through its involvement in the country’s Eurofighter programme and radar systems. The ambassador said the two sides were also advancing cooperation between Italy’s Carabinieri and Kuwait’s National Guard. An agreement had been initialled and was expected to be signed subsequently, paving the way for joint activities in the security field.
He explained that a separate arrangement was needed because the National Guard falls outside the scope of the existing defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
On the possibility of increasing Italy’s military presence in Kuwait, Ambassador Morini said no specific numbers or deployment plans had been established. Any future expansion, he indicated, would depend on the programmes discussed and Kuwait’s requirements.
Economic partnership and investment
Beyond defence, the two countries are seeking to strengthen commercial ties and encourage greater private-sector participation. An agreement between the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and the Italian Trade Agency was among the initiatives highlighted by the ambassador. The arrangement aims to encourage investment flows in both directions, facilitate business contacts and support promotional activities in Kuwait and Italy.
Ambassador Morini said the agreement would provide a framework for closer collaboration between the two institutions and help Italian companies explore opportunities in Kuwait, while encouraging Kuwaiti investors to consider opportunities in Italy.
He stressed that the relationship should not be confined to political and security cooperation, but should also generate tangible economic benefits through stronger business partnerships and increased investment.
The ambassador also underscored the importance of identifying specific projects and areas in which companies from both countries could work together.
Kuwait’s stability is vital to regional security
Addressing the regional situation, Ambassador Morini said developments in the Gulf have significant implications for Italy and Europe, making Kuwait’s security and stability a matter of wider international importance.
“Your security is our security, your stability is our stability,” he said, reaffirming Italy’s readiness to support Kuwait and other regional partners.
He noted that the two countries had discussed security cooperation and the need to work together to strengthen regional stability. Italy, he added, was prepared to participate in initiatives that could contribute to de-escalation and a more stable regional environment.
The ambassador also recalled Italy’s participation in the international coalition that supported Kuwait during the 1990–91 liberation period, describing the shared history as an enduring foundation of bilateral relations.
He said the relationship was based not merely on formal agreements but also on trust, reliability and a willingness to stand by one another during challenging circumstances.
Expanding cooperation in public security
Cooperation between the interior ministries is another area receiving attention under the broader action plan. Ambassador Morini referred to a recent technical visit by a Kuwaiti delegation to Italy to explore collaboration in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, financial crime and smuggling.
The discussions also covered prison management, including security procedures, staff training and approaches to managing diverse prison populations.
He emphasised the importance of effective border controls and modern technologies in combating illicit trafficking, noting that customs authorities play a critical role at land borders, ports and airports.
The two countries are also exploring cooperation in civil protection and crisis management. The ambassador explained that effective crisis response requires coordination among military personnel, emergency services, hospitals, utilities and other civilian institutions to ensure the delivery of essential supplies and services during emergencies.
He said Italy’s experience in coordinating emergency responses, including cooperation with neighbouring European countries during natural disasters and wildfires, could offer useful lessons for Kuwait.
Shared values underpin a longstanding relationship
Reflecting on the broader relationship, Ambassador Morini said Kuwait and Italy had maintained close contacts across political, diplomatic, defence and economic channels, with recent exchanges reinforcing an already established partnership.
He described Prime Minister Meloni’s visit as an opportunity to build on that foundation and move towards a more structured relationship with clearly defined priorities.
While acknowledging the complex challenges facing the Gulf and other parts of the world, he reiterated Italy’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation and initiatives that promote stability.
For Kuwait and Italy, the next phase of bilateral engagement will centre on translating the political understanding reached by their leaders into practical programmes, stronger commercial links and closer institutional cooperation.
Ambassador Morini expressed confidence that sustained engagement between officials, institutions and businesses would help both countries advance their shared objectives and strengthen a partnership built on decades of friendship and mutual support.
