Saudi Arabia and Kuwait: Full solidarity against Iranian aggression
His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a telephone call to his Kuwaiti counterpart, His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during which he affirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with the sisterly State of Kuwait in the face of what he described as “the brutal Iranian aggression.”.
During the call, His Highness the Foreign Minister strongly condemned the attacks targeting the region, affirming the Kingdom's full support for Kuwait and its commitment to providing all possible assistance in all measures taken to maintain its security and stability. This stance underscores the deep-rooted fraternal and historical ties between the two countries and their shared commitment to the security of the Arabian Gulf as an indivisible whole.
Context of the recent escalation in the region
This contact comes in the wake of an unprecedented escalation in the region, namely the direct Iranian attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles in April 2024. This attack, launched in retaliation for the targeting of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, not only threatened its intended target but also violated the airspace of several countries in the region, sparking widespread concern and prompting countries like Kuwait to raise their security and defense alert levels. The passage of missiles and drones through the airspace of neutral countries constitutes a violation of international law and a direct threat to the safety of civil aviation and the security of citizens, drawing broad Gulf and international condemnation.
The importance and impact of Gulf solidarity
The unwavering Saudi position reflects the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a bulwark of collective security. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait extends beyond mere geographical proximity, encompassing historical ties and a shared destiny, clearly demonstrated during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, when the Kingdom played a pivotal role in its liberation. Today, this solidarity is renewed in the face of various challenges, sending a strong message from Riyadh to Tehran that any attack on any member state of the Council is an attack on all members.
At both the regional and international levels, this unified stance contributes to strengthening diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and preventing the region from sliding into a full-blown war. It also underscores the need for the international community to take more seriously Iran’s destabilizing activities, whether through its nuclear program or its support for armed militias in Arab countries, which are a major cause of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
