UAE minister hails Kuwaiti border security for top-tier organization and defense

• Salem Saeed Bin Ghafan Al Jabri expressed hope that all Gulf nations’ border forces would achieve the high standard, adding that the United Arab Emirates has also reached a comparable level of proficiency.

• Al Jabri highlighted Kuwait’s advanced border surveillance, emphasized the shared border security threats faced by Gulf countries, and praised their strong cooperation and coordination in ensuring regional safety. He said while the threat of terrorism is universal, the nature of borders and the topography of each region differ, though the threat remains common.

Salem Saeed Bin Ghafan Al Jabri, the UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Security and Military Affairs, commended Kuwait’s expertise in border security. He highlighted the Kuwaiti border guards’ strong organizational and armament capabilities, noting their effectiveness in intercepting and preventing smuggling operations along the country’s land and sea borders. Al Jabri expressed hope that all Gulf nations’ border forces would achieve this high standard, adding that the UAE has also reached a comparable level of proficiency.

This statement was made by Al Jabri to Al-Rai newspaper during the closing events of the conference “Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Building Flexible Mechanisms for Border Security – The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Operation.”

Al Jabri noted, “Some countries cannot cover all of their borders with modern surveillance methods, as Kuwait does.” He emphasized that “the threat to Gulf countries regarding border security is unified and similar, as terrorist organizations do not target one country exclusively.” He also praised “the great cooperation and high coordination among Gulf countries to ensure the security of their territories and the safety of their people.”

Learning from experiences and lessons

The UAE official expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s invitation to participate in the conference on combating terrorism, stressing “the importance of this topic for all countries of the world. The participation was remarkable, and we thank Kuwait for its excellent hosting and distinguished organization.”

He added, “We had the opportunity to learn from the experiences and lessons shared by all participating countries. While the threat of terrorism is universal, the nature of borders and the topography of each region differ, though the threat remains common.”

Security challenges in the Gulf region

Regarding the security challenges facing the Gulf region, Al Jabri stated that “organized crime and smuggling operations targeting Gulf countries from abroad affect the security of GCC nations, necessitating solidarity and collective action to eliminate them.” He emphasized that the threat from terrorist groups, such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, extends beyond the region, impacting all countries through land, sea borders, or even official entry points.

Kuwaiti-Emirati security cooperation

On Kuwaiti-Emirati security cooperation, Al Jabridescribed it as “very high,” noting that “the relationship among all Gulf countries, not just between Kuwait and the UAE, is strong and characterized by coordination, consultation, and the exchange of information and experiences to ensure the security of all GCC nations.” He added, “The level of cooperation is excellent and continues to improve. Our Gulf is united, and the threat to GCC countries is shared, as terrorist organizations do not target one country over another.”

Importance of global efforts to upgrade border forces

Al Jabri stated that “the discussion at the closing session of the conference focused on the importance of protecting a country’s borders, especially in the current climate when organized crime and smuggling are on the rise. This makes it crucial for countries in the region and around the world to unite in reducing the risks of these phenomena through coordination and the exchange of expertise on securing and strengthening borders.” He emphasized the importance of “global efforts to upgrade border forces, particularly in developing countries.”