Bahrain King Hails Outcomes of GCC Summit

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
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Bahrain King Hails Outcomes of GCC Summit

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa hailed the outcomes and decisions issued during the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit that was held in al-Ula on Tuesday.

He praised the great efforts by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman to bolster cooperation among GCC states and push forward the joint action.

King Hamad further stressed the importance of preserving citizens’ rights and achieve the good for all.

He said the decisions will contribute to developing joint GCC action and enhancing cooperation and coordination among GCC states to meet the aspirations of brotherly GCC peoples for more unity, cooperation, and complementarity.

Meanwhile, Bahraini analysts and journalists have expressed their optimism with the summit’s final communique.

This historic moment will change the future of the Gulf system, they told Asharq Al-Awsat, describing it as a qualitative leap.

Bahraini writer and journalist Sawsan al-Shaer said the communique is a great beginning and shows efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to heal the rift and achieve reconciliation and reunification.

Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt have great confidence in Saudi Arabia, thus entrusting it to negotiate on their behalf.

According to President of the Bahraini Journalists Association Ahdeya al-Sayed, Qatar shall prove its good intentions, noting that Gulf citizens are keen to be assured of their security.

Gulf states expect Qatar to fight with them against terrorism and countries that target their security.

“We want to see actual steps translated on ground so that we all live in stability.”

Political Analyst Saad Rashid considered outcomes of the summit positive in a region that seeks to unify efforts and end the differences.

“We hope to see a clear statement on the end of supporting terrorist groups and entities and the intervention in the sovereignty of other countries,” he added.

GCC states have been facing challenges in the region from Iran, Rashid noted, adding that there is a new US administration and major regional political interactions that require unity in speech and efforts.

“Gulf states represent a major economic power in the world, and the al-Ula final statement is considered a qualitative leap in the areas of development in the Gulf,” he stated, noting that “everyone is optimistic”.



Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
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Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, arrived in Paris on Sunday for his first official visit to France since assuming office last December. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes senior Kuwaiti government officials.

The visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region, amid escalating tensions, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the fallout from military strikes between Iran and Israel.

In a statement issued by the Élysée Palace, the French presidency said the visit reflects a shared desire to deepen bilateral cooperation across diplomatic, defense, and economic spheres. The trip also coincides with Kuwait’s current presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to the statement, the Emir will meet President Emmanuel Macron for a working lunch on Monday. He will also attend France’s annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya described the visit as a “strategic milestone” to strengthen partnership in light of rapidly evolving regional and global dynamics. He confirmed that the Emir’s agenda includes signing agreements and memorandums of understanding covering infrastructure, education, defense, and culture.

Historical Relations

Diplomatic ties between Kuwait and France date back to 1961, when Paris formally recognized Kuwaiti independence. In 1967, the two countries exchanged ambassadors. Over the decades, the relationship has seen several high-profile visits, including Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah’s trip to Paris in 1989 and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah’s meeting with President Jacques Chirac in 2006.

Ministerial engagements have also continued, with former Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid attending the Middle East Peace Conference in 2017. More recently, French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Kuwait in April to sign new bilateral agreements.

Economic and Defense Partnership

France is one of Kuwait’s leading economic partners. French companies account for nearly 50% of European investments in the country and employ over 2,100 people in sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and consumer goods.

On defense, Kuwait and France maintain a military cooperation agreement first signed in August 1992 and renewed in 2009, which provides for mutual assistance if Kuwait faces external aggression. France’s participation in the 1991 coalition to liberate Kuwait cemented its standing as a key military ally.

Last month, Kuwait’s embassy in Paris took part in the “Gulf Vision 2025” conference hosted under Macron’s patronage to forge broader economic partnerships between France and the GCC states.