
US Embassy highlights strength and growth of Kuwait-US strategic partnership
In a statement, the embassy said it hosted a Memorial Day event on Monday evening in collaboration with the American Business Council-Kuwait (ABCK). The event featured remarks by US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara and US Air Force Colonel Matthew Johnson, both of whom emphasized the symbolic importance of Memorial Day and the enduring partnership between Kuwait and the United States.
Ambassador Sasahara and Colonel Johnson highlighted the significance of the occasion in honoring the sacrifices made by American service members and reaffirming the joint dedication of both nations to peace and security in the region.
The event included a documentary screening focusing on the Liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The film featured firsthand accounts from American, coalition, and Kuwaiti participants, reflecting more than three decades of military cooperation and sacrifice in Kuwait and the wider Gulf region.
Senior Kuwaiti officials, members of the US diplomatic mission, and representatives from ABCK attended the event, underscoring the strong bilateral relations that extend beyond defense to include education, commerce, and cultural exchange.
The US Embassy's statement emphasized that the longstanding partnership between Kuwait and the United States continues to be a cornerstone of regional stability, strengthened through ongoing collaboration across multiple sectors.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait's Grace Period Starts Now – 4 Months to Prove Residency
KUWAIT CITY, July 20: From Saturday, July 19, the four-month grace period granted by the Ministry of Interior began for individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenships were revoked under the 'Outstanding Services' clause. During this period, they are permitted to travel using their Kuwaiti passports in preparation for initiating the process of regularizing their legal status, reports Al-Seyassah daily. According to regulations announced by the ministry on July 10, individuals affected by the revocation, including those who acquired citizenship through dependency, must coordinate with the embassies of their countries of origin, (before obtaining Kuwaiti citizenship) to secure passports or official travel documents. These documents will enable them to obtain legal residency in Kuwait. The regulations require affected individuals to provide proof that they have initiated the process of regularizing their legal status. The four-month grace period, which begins from the date the citizenship revocation decrees are published in the official gazette, allows them to legalize their residency. During this period, they will continue to benefit from certain privileges, such as the right to work, access to university education, and housing. Meanwhile, informed sources expect the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm to begin publishing the names of a large number of individuals whose citizenship has been revoked, starting with the edition on Saturday and continuing in the coming issues. This comes as hundreds of files are currently pending a final decision by the Cabinet. The sources explained that the list of revoked citizenships under the 'Outstanding Services' clause includes hundreds of individuals whose files were reviewed by the Citizenship Investigation Committee. It also includes numerous cases involving forgery and those who acquired citizenship through dependency. The latter group is not eligible to rectify their status and will be subject to legal procedures


Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Arab Times
Congratulations ... ‘Visa Platform' Make it easy, do not make it difficult, to comfort the people
'Better late than never.' This saying applies to the recent initiative of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef to launch and immediately implement the Visa Platform, which aims to ease the process of obtaining various types of visas. This is a blessed step, as Kuwait is an open society and treats its visitors in an affable manner. This was not realized by the former MPs and influential figures who used to control the decisions of successive governments, while the latter used to fear their loud voices. The former MPs and influential figures insisted on closing the country to the public, under the illusion that those coming to Kuwait would change the demography of society or deduct a portion from the citizens' share. For more than 25 years, we have been waiting for Kuwait to return to its former glory. We have long been calling for Kuwait to open its doors and ignore flimsy excuses, such as preventing women from visiting their families in Kuwait unless they provide a certificate that they are not pregnant. This condition is a unique Kuwaiti invention. Family visits serve commercial activity, while business or tourist visits stimulate the hotel and restaurant market and boost commercial activity in general. In numerous occasions, we have seen how markets are crowded with visitors and the economy flourishes. Your Highness, the Prime Minister, the mission of any government is to boost the gross domestic product (GDP) and provide initiatives that encourage people. Your Highness, you are an expert in this field. Unfortunately, this has not happened in Kuwait for the past three decades. This situation forced young entrepreneurs and the owners of small and medium enterprises to migrate to neighboring countries, where they found better facilities than what their own country provides. This is just one of many crystal clear examples. In some Gulf countries, entry visas are issued online within a few minutes. This is why other Gulf countries receive millions of people annually. Last year, Dubai Airport received 92.3 million passengers. In just a few months, the duty-free market generated revenues of approximately AED 8 billion. Qatar's Hamad International Airport received 52 million passengers. Saudi airports received more than 128 million passengers, while Kuwait International Airport catered to only seven million passengers. This is another example of what Kuwait loses annually due to its closures. These developments would not have happened in other Gulf states without opening their countries and cities to the tourists, visitors, and transit passengers. In Kuwait, some officials -- inspired by some former MPs -- attempted to close Kuwait International Airport to transit passengers, claiming that a female passenger might be dressed indecently or that another passenger might not adhere to Islamic law. As a result of these backward decisions, Kuwait lost a lot, as shown in comparative statistics. Last year, the UAE's GDP exceeded $482 billion, compared to $134 billion for Kuwait. This is one of the consequences of limited non-oil trade activity, which has not allowed financial inflows from abroad and encouraged capital to fly out of Kuwait. When expatriates are unable to reunite with their families, they go to their families and spend their money there. When a citizen cannot find any entertainment destination in his homeland, he looks for it in a country that offers such a destination with more facilities. For everything mentioned above, the 'Visa Platform' is a step for which the government, especially First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, should be commended. We hope there are no obstacles that could disrupt this platform, as well as restrictions or exaggerated requirements that could bring Kuwait back to closure. I would like to emphasize that the Council of Ministers and His Highness the Prime Minister must open the way for everything that enables Kuwait to restore its open era, to focus on what pleases the people, and to ensure the continuity of activities in all sectors. Kuwait deserves a great deal of goodness. I hope that officials will realize this fact. To conclude, I would like to say to His Highness the Prime Minister that the customers in markets include visitors, not just expatriates.

Kuwait Times
8 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait and Estonia sign MoU to launch political consultations
TALLINN: Kuwait and Estonia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday to establish a framework for ongoing political consultations, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties and opening the door for broader cooperation in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and investment. The agreement was signed in the Estonian capital by Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Sadiq Marafi and Estonia's Undersecretary for Political Affairs Martin Roger, according to a statement from the Kuwaiti Embassy in Germany. The signing was followed by the first round of consultations between the two countries, led by Marafi and Roger, where discussions focused on key strategic sectors. The talks explored ways to enhance cooperation in governance, technology, cybersecurity, and digitalization — key areas of focus under Kuwait's Vision 2035. Both sides also discussed economic and investment opportunities, regional developments, and collaboration in multilateral forums. 'These consultations mark a new phase of cooperation between our two countries,' said Marafi. 'We are committed to exploring joint initiatives that can drive innovation and shared prosperity.' Kuwait's Ambassador to Germany and non-resident Ambassador to Estonia, Reem Al-Khaled, also participated in the consultations. Appointed in June 2025, Ambassador Al-Khaled has emphasized Kuwait's commitment to building a 'robust strategic partnership' with Estonia, particularly in digital transformation, education, and technology. 'We are optimistic about expanding political, economic, and cultural ties in a way that serves the mutual interests of both nations,' she said earlier this year. The timing of the MoU comes as Estonia rolls out a five-year Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Strategy, published in October 2024. The strategy aims to attract €2.8 billion in FDI by 2030, with a focus on innovation-driven sectors like digital technology, renewable energy, and health tech. The strategy prioritizes deeper engagement with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Kuwait. According to the FDI strategy, Estonia sees Kuwait and other GCC countries as promising partners given their financial strength, investment appetite, and increasing focus on sustainability and AI. The strategy encourages tailored engagement with GCC investors, stressing that 'Estonia should now gain the investors' trust by elevating its marketing strategies.' Estonia's strengths in digital governance, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and EU market access offer GCC investors an attractive platform for long-term strategic investments, the document said. — Agencies