कुवैत ने अपने पड़ोसी खाड़ी देशों जैसे कि सऊदी अरब और यूएई के साथ अपना साझारेकरन जोड़ा है जिनके साथ भारत ने सामरिक साझेदारी की समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर किए हैं।
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just concluded visit to Kuwait has led to creating an important milestone in India-Kuwait bilateral relations as well as India’s broader engagement with the Gulf region. PM Modi's visit to Kuwait came after a long gap of 43 years since an Indian Prime Minister last visited the country.

Prime Minister Modi met with Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Crown Prince and other senior leaders and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual concern and committed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

The most notable feature of Modi’s visit to Kuwait has been the announcement of elevating the relationship to a strategic level. This would provide a significant boost to the bilateral relationship between the two.

Kuwait has, thus, joined its neighbouring Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE with whom India has signed strategic partnership agreements.

Bilateral agreements
During the prime ministerial visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between India and Kuwait. Importantly, a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation was signed between the two countries.

This will further strengthen India’s defence and security engagement with Kuwait and India’s defence diplomacy with the Gulf region.

Countering the threat of terrorism is a common concern for both India and Kuwait. During the meetings, both sides agreed to further strengthen security cooperation, exchange information and intelligence, cooperate in capacity-building and law enforcement.

Both sides also agreed to prevent terrorists from using cyberspace for their activities.

Trade and investment
At present, the total bilateral trade between the two countries stands at about US$ 10.46 billion. While India intends to further enhance bilateral trade, it also looks toward inviting Kuwaiti investment to India. 

Kuwait's investment in India is US$ 94.44 million which is substantially below the potential given that it has a sovereign wealth fund of about US$ one trillion and it is the fifth largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

Kuwait has also expressed interest in investing in India. Modi invited the Kuwaiti Investment Authority to visit India and explore the investment opportunities.

Deeper engagement with India in bilateral trade and investment will also help achieve its goals of ‘Vision 2035’ which intends to diversify its economy, establish the country as an international trading hub, build developed infrastructure, create a sustainable living environment and so on.  

Energy partnership
Energy has been one of the key issues in India’s relationship with the Gulf region. India imports around 60 per cent of its energy requirements from the Gulf region alone. Apart from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and UAE, Kuwait is another important country for India’s energy security.

 Moving beyond the cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, India intends to deepen cooperation in renewable energy, including green hydrogen and biofuel with Kuwait.

In a big step forward in collaboration in renewable energy, Kuwait has now joined as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Cooperation in renewable energy signals a new approach that prioritises sustainability in their national development programmes.

Indian diaspora
Besides its political, economic and strategic engagements, India’s soft power in the Gulf region is also growing. There are around one million Indian nationals living and working in Kuwait.

They form a strong bond between the two countries as the people-to-people contact continues to expand. Indians are the largest expatriate community in the country and are appreciated for their contribution to the national development of Kuwait during his visit.

Prime Minister Modi also met with a number of Indian community members and interacted with them. Modi also engaged with the Indian Diaspora in Kuwait and stated that India is very well equipped to meet the human resource requirements of the whole world.

Conferring Kuwait’s highest honour on Indian PM
Prime Minister Modi was conferred ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ – Kuwait’s highest honour – by the Amir of Kuwait.
Prime Minister Modi stated that the India-Kuwait relationship has been based on historical ties. He stated that the relationship between the two countries is based on civilisation, seas and commerce.

He also highlighted that both countries have stood together to help each other in case of emergencies. He stated that during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While India had supplied medicines and healthcare professionals to Kuwait upon its request, Kuwait was also one of the first countries to respond by sending liquid oxygen to India.

Conclusion
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi has paid visits to the rest of the GCC countries.

His visit to Kuwait further reinforces India’s engagement with the Arab Gulf countries. His engagement with the Gulf region has been one of the most successful engagements that has the potential for sustainable collaboration in multiple fields in future.

Besides, Prime Minister Modi has created a new level of trust with the Gulf rulers. This is reflected in the multiple strategic partnerships, defence and security Corporation agreements and the growing engagement in the new and emerging fields of cooperation such as science and technology food security water, security, renewable energy, and so on.

The dynamics of the India-Gulf relationship has evolved significantly under Prime Minister Modi. Moving beyond the traditional transactional relationship, India is now expanding its engagement with these countries on strategic, defence and security issues. 
 
Overall, the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to Kuwait in 43 years has led to further boosting New Delhi’s engagement with the Gulf region giving an impetus to India’s “Think West” policy.

There is a renewed interest and shared commitment visible from both sides in engaging in a strategic partnership. As the geopolitical and security situation in the Gulf region remains fluid, engaging in defence and security cooperation serves the national interest of both.

While India looks towards fostering long-term strategic partnerships in its ‘extended neighbourhood’, Kuwait also intends to deepen its engagement with India and diversify its relationship beyond the immediate neighbourhood. 

A harmonious alignment of interests combined with the resolve to address the shared challenges bring both India and Kuwait to join hands together.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just concluded visit to Kuwait has led to creating an important milestone in India-Kuwait bilateral relations as well as India’s broader engagement with the Gulf region. PM Modi's visit to Kuwait came after a long gap of 43 years since an Indian Prime Minister last visited the country.

Prime Minister Modi met with Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Crown Prince and other senior leaders and discussed a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual concern and committed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

The most notable feature of Modi’s visit to Kuwait has been the announcement of elevating the relationship to a strategic level. This would provide a significant boost to the bilateral relationship between the two.

Kuwait has, thus, joined its neighbouring Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE with whom India has signed strategic partnership agreements.

Bilateral agreements
During the prime ministerial visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between India and Kuwait. Importantly, a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation was signed between the two countries.

This will further strengthen India’s defence and security engagement with Kuwait and India’s defence diplomacy with the Gulf region.

Countering the threat of terrorism is a common concern for both India and Kuwait. During the meetings, both sides agreed to further strengthen security cooperation, exchange information and intelligence, cooperate in capacity-building and law enforcement.

Both sides also agreed to prevent terrorists from using cyberspace for their activities.
Trade and investment

At present, the total bilateral trade between the two countries stands at about US$ 10.46 billion. While India intends to further enhance bilateral trade, it also looks toward inviting Kuwaiti investment to India. 

Kuwait's investment in India is US$ 94.44 million which is substantially below the potential given that it has a sovereign wealth fund of about US$ one trillion and it is the fifth largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

Kuwait has also expressed interest in investing in India. Modi invited the Kuwaiti Investment Authority to visit India and explore the investment opportunities.

Deeper engagement with India in bilateral trade and investment will also help achieve its goals of ‘Vision 2035’ which intends to diversify its economy, establish the country as an international trading hub, build developed infrastructure, create a sustainable living environment and so on.  

Energy partnership
Energy has been one of the key issues in India’s relationship with the Gulf region. India imports around 60 per cent of its energy requirements from the Gulf region alone. Apart from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and UAE, Kuwait is another important country for India’s energy security.

 Moving beyond the cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, India intends to deepen cooperation in renewable energy, including green hydrogen and biofuel with Kuwait.

In a big step forward in collaboration in renewable energy, Kuwait has now joined as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Cooperation in renewable energy signals a new approach that prioritises sustainability in their national development programmes.

Indian diaspora
Besides its political, economic and strategic engagements, India’s soft power in the Gulf region is also growing. There are around one million Indian nationals living and working in Kuwait.

They form a strong bond between the two countries as the people-to-people contact continues to expand. Indians are the largest expatriate community in the country and are appreciated for their contribution to the national development of Kuwait during his visit.

Prime Minister Modi also met with a number of Indian community members and interacted with them. Modi also engaged with the Indian Diaspora in Kuwait and stated that India is very well equipped to meet the human resource requirements of the whole world.

Conferring Kuwait’s highest honour on Indian PM
Prime Minister Modi was conferred ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ – Kuwait’s highest honour – by the Amir of Kuwait.

Prime Minister Modi stated that the India-Kuwait relationship has been based on historical ties. He stated that the relationship between the two countries is based on civilisation, seas and commerce.

He also highlighted that both countries have stood together to help each other in case of emergencies. He stated that during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While India had supplied medicines and healthcare professionals to Kuwait upon its request, Kuwait was also one of the first countries to respond by sending liquid oxygen to India.

Conclusion
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi has paid visits to the rest of the GCC countries.

His visit to Kuwait further reinforces India’s engagement with the Arab Gulf countries. His engagement with the Gulf region has been one of the most successful engagements that has the potential for sustainable collaboration in multiple fields in future.

Besides, Prime Minister Modi has created a new level of trust with the Gulf rulers. This is reflected in the multiple strategic partnerships, defence and security Corporation agreements and the growing engagement in the new and emerging fields of cooperation such as science and technology food security water, security, renewable energy, and so on.

The dynamics of the India-Gulf relationship has evolved significantly under Prime Minister Modi. Moving beyond the traditional transactional relationship, India is now expanding its engagement with these countries on strategic, defence and security issues.  
Overall, the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to Kuwait in 43 years has led to further boosting New Delhi’s engagement with the Gulf region giving an impetus to India’s “Think West” policy.

There is a renewed interest and shared commitment visible from both sides in engaging in a strategic partnership. As the geopolitical and security situation in the Gulf region remains fluid, engaging in defence and security cooperation serves the national interest of both.

While India looks towards fostering long-term strategic partnerships in its ‘extended neighbourhood’, Kuwait also intends to deepen its engagement with India and diversify its relationship beyond the immediate neighbourhood. 

A harmonious alignment of interests combined with the resolve to address the shared challenges bring both India and Kuwait to join hands together.

***The writer is Research Fellow and Coordinator at West Asia Centre, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi; views expressed here are his own