Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Wednesday stressed the importance of preserving “the security and stability of the Red Sea and respecting the right to maritime navigation there, in order to safeguard the interests of the entire world.”
Riyadh and Kuwait called for “restraint and de-escalation, in the shadow of events in the region”, read a joint statement issued at the end of a visit by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, to Saudi Arabia, where he was received by King Salmane bin Abdelaziz. Sheikh Al-Sabah was also received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmane.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait stressed the need to “strengthen cooperation in the defense sector” and “develop strategic partnerships to protect the security and stability of both countries and the region”.
The recent attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis, in response to Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, were also discussed.
The two sides stressed the need for Iraq to “respect Kuwait’s sovereignty and the unity of its territories”. They called on Baghdad to “respect bilateral and international agreements, as well as UN Security Council resolutions, principally Resolution 833, under which the land and maritime borders between Kuwait and Iraq were defined”. They also called for ” further demarcation of these borders.”
The two sides also urged Baghdad to respect the provisions of the agreement governing maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah, signed between Kuwait and Iraq in 2012.
Turning to the war in Gaza, the two parties expressed concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave, and called for a ceasefire and the protection of civilians.
