Kuwaiti Emir Orders Opening of Consulate in Najaf

A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
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Kuwaiti Emir Orders Opening of Consulate in Najaf

A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP
A photo provided by the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA on July 28, 2019 shows Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah (R) meeting with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi (L) in Kuwait City. STRINGER / KUNA / AFP

In a sign of growing relations between Kuwait and Iraq, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered on Sunday the opening of a consulate in the province of Najaf.

In a statement, Governor of Najaf Louay al-Yasiri said the Emir directed to speed up the procedures for opening the consulate.

“We had the privilege of meeting this morning with the Emir of Kuwait who directed to open a consulate in the Najaf province quickly, as well as his contribution to the construction of specialized and sophisticated medical centers to serve visitors ... between the provinces of Najaf and Karbala,” the governor said.

This came after the Emir received Iraqi Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi and his accompanying delegation at the Bayan Palace.

Discussions focused on ways to invest the funds allocated for the reconstruction of Iraq at the Kuwait International Donors Conference held in February 2018.

"We came to the State of Kuwait with the executive officials in the government to discuss the reconstruction projects of Iraq from the grants that were allocated at the Kuwait International Conference, especially in the field of health and education in all governorates, calling for forming joint committees to study and start implementation,” Halbousi said in a statement released by his office.

The Iraqi Speaker arrived in Kuwait on Saturday on a three-day visit within the framework of mutual efforts to strengthen and expand economic and commercial relations between the two countries.

On Sunday, Halbousi also held talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah.

The Speaker expressed Iraq's keenness to stabilize the region, reduce tension and avoid conflict.

Kuwait’s Emir made a landmark visit to Baghdad on June 19 for consultations to boost relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.



Sultan Haitham, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral Ties and Regional Issues


Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
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Sultan Haitham, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral Ties and Regional Issues


Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)
Turkish President receives Oman’s Sultan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (Turkish Presidency)

Türkiye and Oman agreed to deepen cooperation and increase trade to $5 billion. They also backed efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, similar to a recent deal in Lebanon.

“We aim to raise our trade volume with Oman to $5 billion, in line with our available potential. A new era of energy cooperation will commence as liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Oman to Türkiye begin in July 2025,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan welcomed Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Ankara on Thursday, marking the first official visit by an Omani Sultan to Türkiye. Erdogan said he plans to visit Oman in the future.

He thanked Sultan Haitham for Oman’s support after Türkiye’s earthquake last year and praised his efforts to promote regional peace, especially in Yemen. Erdogan also stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations in all areas.

Erdogan called for stronger institutional ties with Oman, announcing 10 agreements in areas such as trade, health, culture, agriculture, and defense. He praised Oman for choosing Turkish defense products and noted that Turkish contractors have handled $7 billion worth of projects in Oman, with potential to support Oman’s “Vision 2040.”

The leaders also discussed regional issues, including US President Joe Biden’s Gaza ceasefire initiative, which Erdogan called “important but overdue.” He stressed the need for an immediate and lasting truce in Gaza and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for peace efforts.

Sultan Haitham said Oman is committed to deepening ties with Türkiye and increasing trade to $5 billion.

The Omani leader highlighted the importance of regional security and cooperation during talks with Erdogan. He voiced Oman’s support for Türkiye’s stance on key international issues and stressed the need to pursue a two-state solution for Palestine to ensure justice and peace.

Erdogan welcomed Sultan Haitham in Ankara with an official ceremony at the presidential palace. The leaders oversaw the signing of 10 agreements aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.