Kuwait, UK Sign Investment Partnership Deal

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend the signing ceremony of the investment partnership MoU between Kuwait and the UK at the 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend the signing ceremony of the investment partnership MoU between Kuwait and the UK at the 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. (KUNA)
TT

Kuwait, UK Sign Investment Partnership Deal

Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend the signing ceremony of the investment partnership MoU between Kuwait and the UK at the 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend the signing ceremony of the investment partnership MoU between Kuwait and the UK at the 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. (KUNA)

Kuwait and Britain sealed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding on an investment partnership at 10 Downing Street in London.

The signing ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Kuwaiti Crown Prince and the British PM also discussed regional and international developments.

The deal was co-signed by Kuwaiti Deputy Premier, Oil Minister, in addition to acting finance minister and State Minister for Economic and Investment Affairs Saad Al-Barak, alongside British Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade Lord Dominic Johnson.

Kuwait News Agency reported that the British PM received Sheikh Mishaal.

During the meeting, they discussed the distinguished relations between Kuwait and the United Kingdom in all fields, reflecting the depth of the strong historical relations between the two peoples and the two friendly countries, as well as several issues of common interest and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas.

Sunak expressed his happiness with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince’s visit, stressing the strength of the historical relations that extend for more than 100 years between the two friendly countries.

He further expressed his aspiration for more cooperation between Kuwait and the UK.

Moreover, the Crown Prince sponsors during his visit to the UK an event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Kuwait Investment Office in London.

Regarding commercial exchanges, the historical records pointed out that commercial and business transactions date back over 200 years.

Kuwait is one of the largest investors in the UK, with the Gulf country establishing the Kuwait Investment Office in London in 1953.

Britain seeks to develop its trade with the Gulf countries. In June, the British government launched talks in Riyadh to reach a trade agreement with the Gulf countries. This deal would offer consumers in the GCC countries more British goods and services.

The total trade with the Gulf is GBP 33.1 billion.

On the military level, Kuwait and the UK share tight military ties.

In Feb. 1992, Kuwait and Britain signed an agreement after the liberation of Kuwait in which the UK would supply Kuwait with weapons as well as conduct military exercises.

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Britain Bader Al-Awadhi affirmed that the historic visit of the Crown Prince to Britain reflects the deep ties between the two countries.

"His Highness's visit will strengthen the existing relations between Kuwait and Britain and will open new horizons for cooperation in the economic, security, and cultural fields in a way that will reflect the reality of the strategic relations," he said.

Lord Mayor of London Nicholas Lyons said that the visit - which comes to mark the 70th anniversary of the Kuwait Investment Office in London - continued the tradition of strengthening ties between the UK and Kuwait.

The Kuwait Investment Office had invested in various sectors in the capital, London, indicated Lyons, adding that the long-term commitment on the Kuwaiti side towards doing business in the UK had reflected the vast investment opportunities within Britain.



Saudi-Omani Coordination Meeting Consolidates Joint Cooperation

Saudi Minister and his Omani counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. (SPA)
Saudi Minister and his Omani counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. (SPA)
TT

Saudi-Omani Coordination Meeting Consolidates Joint Cooperation

Saudi Minister and his Omani counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. (SPA)
Saudi Minister and his Omani counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, met on Monday in Muscat with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, where they reviewed the fraternal relations between the two countries and ways to develop them across various fields.

The two sides also discussed regional and international developments, and the efforts addressed in this regard.

Following their meeting, the Saudi Minister and his Omani counterpart co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council with the participation of the heads of the Council’s subsidiary committees and the two heads of the Council’s General Secretariat teams.

The meeting of the Coordination Council comes as an affirmation of the keenness of the Saudi and Omani leaderships to strengthen fraternal ties and advance them toward broader horizons that achieve greater prosperity for the two countries and peoples.

In his remarks during the meeting, Prince Faisal affirmed that the meeting builds on the second meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council, which was held in AlUla on 12 December 2024, and on its positive and fruitful outcomes within the framework of the approved recommendations and initiatives.

Prince Faisal stressed the importance of continuing the work of the Council’s subsidiary committees to complete the necessary procedures to implement the remaining initiatives, and of the General Secretariat’s role in follow-up and in addressing any challenges that may hinder implementation.

The Saudi minister underscored the importance of developing and enhancing trade relations, stimulating investment, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. He commended the signing of the minutes facilitating mutual recognition of rules of origin between the two countries and the acceptance of certificates of origin issued by the competent authorities, as well as the launch of the second phase of industrial integration initiatives between the two countries.

This, Prince Faisal highlighted, reflects the strength of economic ties and underscores the commitment to enhancing economic and trade cooperation in a manner that serves the interests of both countries and peoples.

He also praised the ongoing work to establish and launch the Coordination Council’s electronic platform, which aims to connect all committee work and initiatives to facilitate follow-up on the Council’s progress. The Foreign Minister further welcomed the progress achieved between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, industry, energy, investment, and other vital sectors, and efforts to expand cooperation opportunities in ways that yield positive outcomes and benefits for the two peoples.

For his part, the Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed in his remarks the qualitative progress in relations between the two countries and the notable development witnessed across numerous sectors toward achieving economic integration and enhancing intra-trade and joint investments.

He also highlighted deeper cooperation in security and judicial fields, as well as cultural and tourism sectors, noting the advanced and continuous political cooperation, consultation, and coordination on regional and international issues—reflecting the shared commitment to aligning visions and objectives between the two countries.

The Omani foreign minister expressed his aspiration to continue advancing joint cooperation and achieving integration across all fields that bring further benefits to the two peoples, emphasizing the activation of agreed initiatives and the implementation of joint programs and projects in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of the leaderships and peoples of both countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides signed the minutes of the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Minister of Interior Dr. Hisham Al-Falih; Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati; Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Bishan; Assistant Minister of Investment Dr. Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi; Deputy Minister for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Planning Rakan Tarabzoni; Head of the Secretariat's working group by from the Saudi side Engineer Fahd Al-Harthi; and Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Culture Abdullah Al-Raddadi; and Advisor to the Director of the Strategic Management Office Eng. Abdulrahman Maghrabi.


Arab League Condemns Israeli Decision to Establish New Settlements in West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
TT

Arab League Condemns Israeli Decision to Establish New Settlements in West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the decision by the Israeli occupation’s ministerial committee to approve the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, considering it a blatant challenge to the international will rejecting settlement activity and a violation of international law, which affirms the illegitimacy of settlements.

In a statement issued Monday, the secretary-general said the continued expansion of illegal settlement activity aims to prevent the establishment of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state and reflects the nature of the Israeli government, which he said is controlled by extremists and settlers, SPA reported.

Aboul Gheit stressed that settlement expansion will not make it legitimate under any circumstances.

 

He highlighted that the violence practiced by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank constitutes a form of terrorism carried out under the watch and with the protection of the official institutions of the occupying power.


Saudi FM Arrives in Muscat for Meeting of Saudi-Omani Coordination Council 

Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi welcomes his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah upon his arrival in Muscat. (SPA)
Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi welcomes his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah upon his arrival in Muscat. (SPA)
TT

Saudi FM Arrives in Muscat for Meeting of Saudi-Omani Coordination Council 

Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi welcomes his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah upon his arrival in Muscat. (SPA)
Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi welcomes his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah upon his arrival in Muscat. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Muscat on Monday.

He was received by his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi upon his arrival at Muscat International Airport.

The two sides are scheduled to hold the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council.