Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
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Kuwait: Decision to Dissolve National Assembly Widely Welcomed

A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee
A view shows the first parliament session held after elections, in Kuwait City, Kuwait December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee

The decision of Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah to constitutionally dissolve the National Assembly and call for new general elections was widely welcomed by politicians and parliament members.

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said in a tweet: “Based on Sharia, the Constitution, and our morals as Kuwaitis, we must rally around the political leadership in what it sees as the supreme interest of the nation, and support and assist it until we take Kuwait to safety.”

In a speech on behalf of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah, Sheikh Meshal said: “We have decided to dissolve the National Assembly and call for general elections… The people themselves will have the final word in correcting the political scene by selecting those who properly represent them.”

Former National Assembly Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Emir of Kuwait and the Crown Prince.

For his part, former MP Musallam Al-Barrak said: “Thank you, Your Highness, you have made a wise decision to preserve Kuwait and its people, and you have fulfilled your oath before God and the people… Peace has settled in the hearts of the people.”

The National Democratic Alliance in Kuwait issued a statement in which it valued the constitutional principles on which the political leadership’s discourse was based, especially with regards to giving the Kuwaiti people the opportunity “to choose their representatives without the interference of the political authority.”

The National Democratic Alliance called on all political parties and the Kuwaiti people “to seize this opportunity to rebuild confidence in our political and democratic institutions and to choose their representatives wisely for the next assembly.”

The Islamic Constitutional Movement said that the crown prince’s speech ended the political impasse in the country.

In a statement, the movement said: “The constitutional dissolution of the National Assembly ends the complete paralysis that afflicted the two authorities, which halted the desired development and disrupted legislation and serious oversight. Returning to the people is the ideal constitutional solution, which affirms that the nation is the source of all powers.”

MP Ali Al-Kattan called on the people to rally behind the Kuwaiti leadership, saying: “Following the speech of His Highness, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al Sabah, we can only rally around our wise political leadership that puts the interest of Kuwait and its people above everything else.”



Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces have announced the graduation of the second unit trained to operate the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. The training was completed at Fort Bliss Military Base in El Paso, Texas.

This latest graduation follows the completion of training for the first unit several months ago and is part of a broader initiative to build a fully qualified Saudi operational and maintenance crew for the THAAD system- one of the world’s most advanced and precise missile defense technologies. The system is considered a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s air defense capabilities.

During their training, the Saudi personnel underwent an intensive program that included technical and operational instruction, combat simulation, and advanced field exercises. The course was conducted under the supervision of experts from the system’s manufacturing company, in cooperation with the United States as part of ongoing military collaboration agreements between the two nations.

This training initiative is aligned with the Saudi Ministry of Defense’s strategic objective to enhance the operational readiness and technical proficiency of its forces through advanced and specialized training. The goal is to equip Saudi forces with the skills required for modern military operations, in line with Vision 2030’s focus on military modernization and technological localization.

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces continue to implement comprehensive plans to qualify national cadres capable of managing and operating advanced defense systems, strengthening national security and protecting Saudi airspace against potential threats.

The graduation ceremony was held at Fort Bliss in the presence of Major General Abdullah Al-Rubaie, Commander of the Air Defense Forces Institute, representing Lieutenant General Mazyad Al-Amro, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces. The event was also attended by US counterparts and representatives from relevant training bodies.