Kuwait pushes forward stronger regional cooperation goals with Central Asia during a key diplomatic meeting in the capital. Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya chaired the session of the GCC Ministerial Council and clearly stated that Iraq’s appeal over the Khor Abdullah agreement is an internal matter. He said the GCC respects Iraq’s decision and will monitor any upcoming developments.
At a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Al-Yahya stressed the strong ties between Gulf and Central Asian nations. These connections include shared culture, history, and humanitarian values. Both sides aim to deepen their partnership and work on long-term regional cooperation goals that benefit all parties.
Kuwait’s support for Palestine’s rights remains strong. Al-Yahya emphasized the importance of forming an independent state with East Jerusalem as the capital. He also called for an immediate stop to attacks on Gaza and full access to humanitarian aid. The suffering of civilians, he said, must end now. Peace in the region remains key to achieving wider regional cooperation goals.
The meeting also addressed the ongoing crisis in Syria. Al-Yahya highlighted the need for a political solution based on UN resolution 2254. Such a solution should protect Syria’s unity and lead to peace. Ensuring stability in Syria directly contributes to long-term regional cooperation goals.
In addition, the discussions focused on regional cooperation goals in key sectors like food and water security. Technology played a major role, especially digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. These fields are vital for progress and sustainability in both Gulf and Central Asian countries.
When discussing political and security topics, Al-Yahya underlined the need to fight terrorism and cyber threats through better coordination. He called for stronger intelligence sharing among GCC and Central Asian countries. This partnership, in his view, can become a global example of successful regional cooperation goals.
“The second GCC–Central Asia summit will take place soon in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Al-Yahya expects new initiatives and projects to emerge from that meeting. These joint actions aim to support and expand the regions’ strategic partnerships.”
GCC Secretary-General Al-Budaiwi thanked Kuwait for hosting the event and praised its leadership. He noted the significant steps taken since the first summit in Jeddah. According to him, the final statement will focus on energy, transport, tourism, culture, and sustainability — all aligned with broader regional cooperation goals.
Condemning attacks on Palestinians, Al-Budaiwi urged international action. He also pointed to peace efforts in Central Asia, such as the Khujand Agreement and the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks. These efforts offer strong models that promote mutual stability and help advance shared regional partnerships.
He reviewed active GCC projects in finance, healthcare, culture, and diplomacy. Trade between the two regions is now close to $10 billion. Investment interest continues to grow. He ended the conference by stressing joint efforts to fight climate change and hunger as part of future regional cooperation goals.
