Kuwait, U.S. enhance strategic partnership

Kuwaiti and U.S. Soldiers participate in the Desert Leopard II exercise in March 2019. SGT. LINSEY WILLIAMS/U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

UNIPATH STAFF

Kuwait and the United States reconfirmed their strategic partnership in March 2019 by co-signing a joint statement dedicated to further military, security, political and economic cooperation.

Titled “Enhancing Our Strategic Partnership,” the statement reaffirmed both countries’ support for a Middle East Strategic Alliance, Iraqi reconstruction, peace negotiations in Yemen and humanitarian aid for displaced Syrians.

Both countries agreed to continue modernizing and integrating their armed forces. The U.S. thanked Kuwait for hosting a meeting of the armed forces chiefs of staff of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt and Jordan, and the commander of U.S. Central Command in September 2018 and the multinational Eagle Resolve exercise in 2020.

As part of Kuwait’s participation in the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, Kuwaiti police and prosecutors will receive training to hone their counterterrorism skills.

“The Kuwait and U.S defense partnership plays an important role in regional security and stability, and it extends to areas of combating terrorism and deterring external aggression,” the statement said.

Both countries have also partnered to improve cyber security to protect computer networks from criminals, terrorists and hostile states.

“The United States welcomes Kuwait’s decision to join the 24-7 High Tech Crime Network, which facilitates point-to-point contact for investigations involving electronic evidence that require urgent assistance from member nation law enforcement partners,” the statement said.

The statement was approved during the third U.S.-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue in Kuwait City in March 2019. The session was co-chaired by Kuwaiti Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Source: U.S. State Department

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