NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kuwait on December 21-22, marking the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. Although Modi was initially expected to visit Saudi Arabia this month, that trip has been delayed and is now scheduled for next year due to issues with finalizing dates. Kuwait, a key supplier of crude oil and LPG to India and home to a large Indian community of around one million, is the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that Modi has not yet visited. The country currently holds the GCC presidency.
Earlier this month, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, visited India and extended an invitation to Modi for the trip. During his visit, Modi recalled his meeting with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, in New York in September, and expressed satisfaction with the growing momentum in bilateral relations.
Modi also discussed the situation in West Asia with the visiting Kuwaiti foreign minister, reiterating India’s support for the early restoration of peace, security, and stability in the region. On December 1, Kuwait hosted a summit of the six GCC countries, during which it called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the international community to protect innocent civilians, open safe corridors, and ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid. India has also consistently advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza and has emphasized efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading to other parts of the region.
During his visit, the Kuwaiti foreign minister and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar signed an MoU to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers. The JCC will oversee the creation of new joint working groups in areas such as trade, investment, education, agriculture, technology, security, and culture. It will serve as an umbrella mechanism to comprehensively review and monitor the full range of bilateral relations, including existing areas like hydrocarbons, health, and consular matters, according to the Indian government.
