Turkiye and Kuwait Strengthen Bilateral Relations: Six Cooperation Agreements Signed in Defense, Trade, Energy, Tourism, Health, and Diplomacy
Turkey and Kuwait strengthened their relationship through the signing of six cooperation agreements during Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's visit to Ankara.
The agreements covered defense, trade, energy, tourism, health, and diplomacy.
This was Sheikh Meshal's first visit to a non-Arab country since becoming emir and coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Experts believe that this progress will influence regional politics.
A Turkish diplomat has expressed interest in developing relations with Middle Eastern countries seeking neutrality in regional geopolitics.
This includes Kuwait, where a strategic dialogue agreement has been signed to align regional policies.
The ambassador, Tuba Nur Sonmez, discussed bilateral relations and regional issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict during a visit to Kuwait.
The two countries aim to increase their trade volume from $688 million last year to $1 billion, with Turkish exports to Kuwait exceeding $583 million.
Kuwait and Turkey signed a defense industry supply agreement worth $367 million for the purchase of TB2 armed drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar in 2023.
The deal indicates mutual interest in defense industry cooperation between the two states.
However, the trade volume between the two countries is not significant compared to their other trading partners.
Both sides aim to strengthen their economic relations by revitalizing the Joint Economic Commission.
Kuwait's leadership aims to diversify its economy as its revenue depends solely on hydrocarbon exports, and increased trade with Turkey could help achieve this goal.
Last year, Kuwaiti investment in Turkey was $2 billion, and it has already reached $1.5 billion this year.
Ersoy expects more Kuwaiti investment in the future.
Turkey also expects Kuwait to reduce its trade deficit.
In the tourism sector, Turkey saw a surge of Gulf tourists last year, with Istanbul, Trabzon, Bodrum, and Izmir being popular destinations for Kuwaitis.
However, Arab visitors have faced sporadic attacks due to anti-Arab sentiment in Turkey.
A Kuwaiti tourist was attacked in the city of Trabzon last year, but the relationship between Turkey and Kuwait is based on mutual respect and trust, according to Betul Dogan Akkas, an assistant professor of international relations at Ankara University.
She told Arab News that there is potential for economic cooperation, particularly in the defense industry, and that Kuwait is open to strengthening trade ties.
Akkas emphasized the need for both countries to focus on long-term goals and institutionalize their diplomatic relationship.
The Emir of Kuwait made his first non-Arab visit to Turkiye, demonstrating the support of both leaders for strengthening relations between the two countries.
Dogan Akkas, an expert on the Middle East, emphasizes the importance of successful political decision-making and structure in deepening ties.
The Turkish ambassador to Kuwait is working towards a long-term goal to achieve this.
The timing of the visit is significant as it follows the Turkish president's visit to Iraq, which eased tensions in Gulf politics by showing Ankara's commitment to better relations with a key neighbor of Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti leadership values Turkiye's openness to regional dialogue and economic growth in strengthening their ties.
Kuwait expressed concerns about being excluded from a transport project linking Iraq to Turkiye and Gulf states.
During a recent visit of Turkish President Erdogan to Iraq, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Iraq, Qatar, UAE, and Turkiye, with the project launching from Iraq's Faw port, near Kuwait's Mubarek port whose completion has been delayed.
Kuwait's unease was not addressed during the visit.
National security concerns may have also contributed to the visit, as Kuwait's neutrality does not guarantee immunity from regional conflicts and coercive diplomacy.
Therefore, building a security partnership with Turkey is seen as a prudent move by the Kuwaiti leadership.
Dogan Akkas emphasized the significance of Kuwait and Turkey deepening their cooperation beyond the bilateral level, suggesting that by working together regionally or subregionally, they could increase their political influence and effectively implement their partnership.
This was Sheikh Meshal's first visit to a non-Arab country since becoming emir and coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Experts believe that this progress will influence regional politics.
A Turkish diplomat has expressed interest in developing relations with Middle Eastern countries seeking neutrality in regional geopolitics.
This includes Kuwait, where a strategic dialogue agreement has been signed to align regional policies.
The ambassador, Tuba Nur Sonmez, discussed bilateral relations and regional issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict during a visit to Kuwait.
The two countries aim to increase their trade volume from $688 million last year to $1 billion, with Turkish exports to Kuwait exceeding $583 million.
Kuwait and Turkey signed a defense industry supply agreement worth $367 million for the purchase of TB2 armed drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar in 2023.
The deal indicates mutual interest in defense industry cooperation between the two states.
However, the trade volume between the two countries is not significant compared to their other trading partners.
Both sides aim to strengthen their economic relations by revitalizing the Joint Economic Commission.
Kuwait's leadership aims to diversify its economy as its revenue depends solely on hydrocarbon exports, and increased trade with Turkey could help achieve this goal.
Last year, Kuwaiti investment in Turkey was $2 billion, and it has already reached $1.5 billion this year.
Ersoy expects more Kuwaiti investment in the future.
Turkey also expects Kuwait to reduce its trade deficit.
In the tourism sector, Turkey saw a surge of Gulf tourists last year, with Istanbul, Trabzon, Bodrum, and Izmir being popular destinations for Kuwaitis.
However, Arab visitors have faced sporadic attacks due to anti-Arab sentiment in Turkey.
A Kuwaiti tourist was attacked in the city of Trabzon last year, but the relationship between Turkey and Kuwait is based on mutual respect and trust, according to Betul Dogan Akkas, an assistant professor of international relations at Ankara University.
She told Arab News that there is potential for economic cooperation, particularly in the defense industry, and that Kuwait is open to strengthening trade ties.
Akkas emphasized the need for both countries to focus on long-term goals and institutionalize their diplomatic relationship.
The Emir of Kuwait made his first non-Arab visit to Turkiye, demonstrating the support of both leaders for strengthening relations between the two countries.
Dogan Akkas, an expert on the Middle East, emphasizes the importance of successful political decision-making and structure in deepening ties.
The Turkish ambassador to Kuwait is working towards a long-term goal to achieve this.
The timing of the visit is significant as it follows the Turkish president's visit to Iraq, which eased tensions in Gulf politics by showing Ankara's commitment to better relations with a key neighbor of Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti leadership values Turkiye's openness to regional dialogue and economic growth in strengthening their ties.
Kuwait expressed concerns about being excluded from a transport project linking Iraq to Turkiye and Gulf states.
During a recent visit of Turkish President Erdogan to Iraq, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Iraq, Qatar, UAE, and Turkiye, with the project launching from Iraq's Faw port, near Kuwait's Mubarek port whose completion has been delayed.
Kuwait's unease was not addressed during the visit.
National security concerns may have also contributed to the visit, as Kuwait's neutrality does not guarantee immunity from regional conflicts and coercive diplomacy.
Therefore, building a security partnership with Turkey is seen as a prudent move by the Kuwaiti leadership.
Dogan Akkas emphasized the significance of Kuwait and Turkey deepening their cooperation beyond the bilateral level, suggesting that by working together regionally or subregionally, they could increase their political influence and effectively implement their partnership.
Translation:
Translated by AI
