ROME (ITALPRESS) – Relations between Italy and Kuwait are strong and rooted in solidarity, demonstrated during all the most important moments. This is the view of Kuwait’s ambassador to Rome, Nasser Sanhat Al-Qahtani, interviewed by Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitical program of the Italpress news agency. “Relations between Kuwait and Italy were officially established in 1964 with the exchange of ambassadors, and over the past sixty years they have stood out for their strength and continuity. This year we celebrated the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,” the diplomat recalled. Kuwait, he added, looks at Italy with great interest “because of the important role it plays both within the European Union and at the international level,” as one of the world’s eight largest economies. Above all, “if we look at the course of bilateral relations, we notice a significant element: during the crises that affected both countries, there were always mutual positions of support, coordination, and solidarity,” Al-Qahtani observed. “We remember, for example, 1990, when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq: the Italian government and people took a position of solidarity, calling for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces. Later, when the United Nations Security Council authorized the use of force to liberate Kuwait, Italy actively participated with its forces within the international coalition, contributing to the liberation of the country in 1991,” he said.
“We also remember the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020: when the whole world was affected, and Italy was among the first countries involved, the State of Kuwait provided the necessary aid to the Italian people in a spirit of solidarity between nations,” he continued. Al-Qahtani also recalled the solidarity shown by Italy toward the Gulf countries in the context of the current crisis affecting the region, the numerous bilateral visits, and finally “Prime Minister Meloni’s visit to the region: she was the first world leader to visit during that period, during the conflict and before the ceasefire began.” Relations are not only political and diplomatic: at the Ali Al Salem base there are also 300 Italian Air Force personnel engaged in the anti-ISIS mission. “The presence of Italian forces — together with those of other friendly countries — falls within the framework of the 2003 SOFA agreement regulating the presence of foreign forces. This presence is linked to logistical activities, the fight against terrorism in Iraq, and support for the country’s stability,” explained the head of the diplomatic mission in Rome, recalling that the defense cooperation agreement between the State of Kuwait and Italy “is particularly important: it was signed in 2003, expired in 2023, and was renewed this year.”
Cooperation in defense and security has also included an agreement for the acquisition of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Italy. “As for the Eurofighter aircraft, this is a highly significant agreement for the modernization and strengthening of the Kuwaiti Air Force’s capabilities. So far we have received 23 of the 28 aircraft planned, and we expect to receive the remaining five by the end of the year,” he said. Speaking again about security, the ambassador addressed the situation in the Gulf region. “The current situation is the result of escalation in the region and the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. We, as the State of Kuwait and as countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, are not part of this conflict,” the diplomat stated. “We also appreciate Italy’s position, which supported the needs of the Gulf countries: it is a position we will not forget,” he added. “We hope that diplomatic efforts by all parties will continue in order to stop this war and achieve a definitive ceasefire, so as to protect the interests of the Gulf countries and avoid the strategic straits being used during crises and military escalation. We do not want Iran to use these strategic passages as an instrument of political blackmail, either against our countries or against the entire world. We hope for a comprehensive agreement that guarantees security for everyone and also protects us from possible developments related to nuclear capabilities, which would represent a serious risk for the entire region,” he observed.
“Our goal is a region free of nuclear weapons, and we support every effort in this direction. Although we had the right to respond to the Iranian attacks, we chose not to do so in order to encourage diplomatic dialogue, reduce escalation, and reach a shared solution,” he concluded. Returning to relations with Italy, from an economic perspective Al-Qahtani noted that “despite the excellent bilateral relations, the volume of trade exchanges is not yet fully in line with the strength of this relationship. We are working very hard, on both sides, so that economic cooperation reaches a level proportionate to the importance of our relations.” There are already several ideas and agreements under consideration between the two sides, he noted, which could soon be approved. Among them is an agreement for the promotion of reciprocal investments. “Currently, the volume of Kuwaiti investments in Italy exceeds 8 billion euros and continues to grow. There is also a long and positive history of cooperation through Q8, which has been active for more than 40 years in the distribution of petroleum products in Italy, with around 2,800 service stations and about 12,000 Italian employees, contributing roughly 18% of the Italian petroleum products market,” he said. “There is also a project announced two months ago in Sicily concerning the construction of a biofuel refinery with an investment of around 500 million euros, aimed at producing 500,000 tons of biofuel,” the ambassador added. Finally, the diplomat touched on cultural relations. “There are several initiatives, starting with exchanges of scholarships for language learning, such as Arabic and Italian,” Al-Qahtani recalled, noting that cooperation between universities has also involved fields such as archaeology. Finally, “we are working on organizing cultural festivals in Rome on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of diplomatic relations,” concluded the Kuwaiti ambassador.
– photo Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
