Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Adarsh Swaika, recently held an important meeting with Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah. The meeting, which took place in Kuwait, focused on several key issues, particularly those affecting the Indian community living in Kuwait. Ambassador Swaika took the opportunity to inform Sheikh Fahad about the various concerns and challenges faced by Indian nationals residing in the Gulf nation.
In addition to addressing community-related matters, Ambassador Swaika also highlighted the state of bilateral defence cooperation between India and Kuwait. This discussion was crucial, as Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah also serves as the Defence and Interior Minister of Kuwait. The two leaders explored the prospects of enhancing defence ties between their countries, aiming to strengthen cooperation in this vital area.
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait shared details of the meeting in a post on the social media platform X, emphasizing the significance of the discussions. The post read, “Ambassador Adarsh Swaika called on H.E Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Interior. The ambassador highlighted the state and prospects of bilateral defence cooperation and apprised him of issues relating to the Indian community in Kuwait.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s Visit to Kuwait
Around the same time, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, was on an official visit to Kuwait on August 18. During his visit, Minister Jaishankar met with several high-ranking Kuwaiti leaders, including the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and the Prime Minister, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In these meetings, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude to Kuwait’s leadership for their continued support and guidance in strengthening the relationship between India and Kuwait.
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Minister Jaishankar also had a productive meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. The two leaders discussed various ways to deepen bilateral relations between their nations, including increasing the frequency of high-level visits and exchanges. This dialogue was seen as a positive step towards enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.
During his visit, Minister Jaishankar also took the time to interact with members of the Indian community in Kuwait. He met with representatives from various professional and community associations, commending their achievements and contributions to the strong ties between India and Kuwait. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that Jaishankar’s visit was instrumental in giving fresh momentum to India-Kuwait relations and in laying the groundwork for future initiatives and agreements.
It is worth noting that relations between India and Kuwait have also been marked by unfortunate incidents, such as the tragic fire that occurred in June at a labour accommodation in Kuwait’s Mangaf area. The fire claimed the lives of at least 45 Indian nationals, making it one of the deadliest incidents involving Indian workers in the region.
The victims of the fire hailed from various states across India, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, Punjab, and West Bengal. The largest number of victims, 23 in total, were from Kerala. This incident has further underscored the importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of Indian workers abroad, a matter that remains a priority in discussions between India and Kuwait.
As India continues to strengthen its diplomatic and community ties with Kuwait, such meetings and visits are crucial in addressing both current and future challenges. The cooperation between the two nations, particularly in areas such as defence and community welfare, is expected to grow stronger in the coming years.
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