Saudi Arabia, Oman Agree to Maintain Coordination over Regional Issues

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi meet in Muscat on Monday. (ONA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi meet in Muscat on Monday. (ONA)
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Saudi Arabia, Oman Agree to Maintain Coordination over Regional Issues

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi meet in Muscat on Monday. (ONA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi meet in Muscat on Monday. (ONA)

Saudi Arabia and Oman said on Monday they were determined to hold the first meeting of their coordination council during 2023.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi held consultative talks in Muscat on Monday aimed at tackling regional challenges and ways to address them through peaceful means.

They stressed the Kingdom and Sultanate's continued coordination over regional affairs and constructive cooperation in their foreign ministries.

In a statement, Prince Faisal said the activation of the Saudi-Omani coordination council is an important mechanism that will bolster bilateral cooperation between the neighbors, especially in trade and investment.

He described as positive the meeting he held with Albusaidi, underscoring the strong and close ties shared between Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The relations are witnessing development in several fields and initiatives to implement major projects that would strengthen the economic integration between them, he added.

The FM’s discussed the unique bilateral relations between their countries and opportunities of bilateral cooperation in various domains, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

They also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.



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.