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Al-Issa, Congress Members Discuss Values of Friendship, Cooperation

Al-Issa met on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the US Congress. (SPA)
Al-Issa met on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the US Congress. (SPA)
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Al-Issa, Congress Members Discuss Values of Friendship, Cooperation

Al-Issa met on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the US Congress. (SPA)
Al-Issa met on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the US Congress. (SPA)

Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, said that Saudi Arabia represented the unifying spirit of the Islamic world.

Al-Issa met on Wednesday with a delegation of members of the US Congress. The delegation included: Republican Representative from Utah Chris Stewart, Republican Representative from Michigan Lisa McClain, and Republican Representative from Pennsylvania Guy Reschenthaler, as well as a number of officials.

Discussions during the meeting touched on a number of issues of common interest.

The US delegation praised the efforts of the MWL in deepening the concept of humanity and the urgent need for peace in the world.

They hailed the MWL leading role in building effective alliances at the level of countries and international organizations in order to consolidate the values of friendship and cooperation among nations and peoples.

The US delegation also underlined the importance of the Forum on Common Values among Religious Followers, which was hosted by the MWL in Riyadh.

They stressed that the forum represented a unique international event, as it brought together the main representatives of world religions.

They pointed to the final statement, which they said constituted an important turning point in the solidarity of religious leaders under the umbrella of the common human values.

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Gulf

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) 
TT
20
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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.