Kuwait and Turkey signed a military cooperation agreement last night in Ankara, focusing on the purchase of Turkish defense industries by Kuwait. Additionally, the two nations entered into agreements aimed at boosting direct investment.
The series of agreements were signed in the presence of Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Kuwaiti News Agency reported that Sheikh Meshal highlighted the visit as a step towards enhancing “fruitful and constructive cooperation” between the two countries, reflecting both leaders’ commitment to elevating their relationship across various sectors for the mutual benefit of both nations and their peoples.
Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal, commended the initiation of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Republic of Turkey, which started on April 21st in Ankara.
He expressed enthusiasm for bolstering joint cooperation, especially in defense, through direct government-to-government contracts.
Looking ahead, Sheikh Meshal announced plans for the third session of the Joint Cooperation Committee at the ministerial level in Kuwait and the 11th session of the Kuwaiti-Turkish Joint Committee for Economic, Industrial, and Technical Cooperation in Ankara.
During the ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, multiple bilateral agreements were inked. A key highlight was the signing of an executive protocol between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense and Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense and the Presidency of Defense Industries regarding government-to-government defense industry purchases.
This protocol was signed by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, and Turkey’s Minister of Defense Industries, Haluk Görken.
Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding was signed to establish a joint strategic dialogue between the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The agreement was signed by the respective foreign ministers of the two countries.
Other significant signings included a memorandum of understanding between Kuwait’s General Directorate of Civil Defense and Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), focusing on disaster and emergency management. This was signed by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister and AFAD’s President, Okay Memiş.
Also, letters of intent were signed concerning cooperation in free zones between Kuwait’s Direct Investment Promotion Authority and Turkey’s General Directorate of Free Zones, signed by Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and State Minister for Economic and Investment Affairs, Anwar Ali Abdullah Al-Mudhaf, and Turkey’s Minister of Commerce, Umar Bulat.
These agreements reflect a deepening partnership between Kuwait and Turkey, aiming to foster economic growth, enhance security cooperation, and build resilient infrastructure and housing solutions for the future.
Keywords: Kuwait, Turkey, bilateral agreements, defense industry, investment, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, free trade agreement, economic cooperation.
