India, Kuwait Sign Four Pacts Including Defence During Modi's Two-Day Visit

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah held their first bilateral meeting on Sunday, the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in defence, along with agreements in culture and sports.

Modi arrived in Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years. The last visit was by Indira Gandhi in 1981. Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

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Key Agreements:

Defence: The defence pact focuses on several key areas, including training, personnel exchanges, joint exercises, defence industry cooperation, supply of equipment, and collaboration in research and development.

In the talks, the two sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and called for the disruption of terrorism financing networks and safe havens, the joint statement noted. Both sides also agreed to enhance counter-terror cooperation, information and intelligence sharing, and the exchange of best practices and technologies.

Culture: A Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2025-2029 was also signed, aiming to boost cultural collaboration in arts, literature, music, dance, and theatre. The program will focus on the preservation of cultural heritage, research and development, and the organisation of festivals.

Sports: In the field of sports, an Executive Programme (EP) for 2025-2028 was finalised to promote bilateral cooperation. It will focus on participation in sports programs, expertise exchange in sports medicine and management, and development in sports science and media.

Solar Energy: Kuwait formally joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during Modi’s visit. The alliance aims to tackle challenges in scaling up solar energy use and support low-carbon growth trajectories for member countries.

Earlier on Saturday, Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at a community event. Indians are the largest expatriate group in Kuwait. Modi also visited an Indian labour camp in the country.

Kuwait is an important trading partner for India, with bilateral trade reaching USD 10.47 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. It is India’s sixth-largest crude supplier, meeting 3 per cent of the country’s energy needs, and the fourth-largest LPG supplier.