US, Kuwait share "strong and enduring" ties

President Donald Trump said on Thursday the US was "proud" to have led coalition forces to rid Iraqi occupation from Kuwait, with whom Washington shares a "strong and enduring partnership." "Today we reaffirm our commitment to our shared security interests and recognize Kuwait's critical contributions to regional stability," he told reporters at the White House after talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Trump also thanked Kuwait for its "humanitarian leadership," its commitment to the war on terror and leading efforts to resolve the feud between Qatar and another four Arab countries. Cooperation has "never been stronger," he said, noting to several deals struck between both countries on intelligence-sharing, military purchases and education.

These include a transfer and purchase deal for US FA-18 Super Hornet fighter jets to Kuwait, worth US$ 5 billion, which has already been authorized by the State Department, Trump said.

Furthermore, the FBI and the Kuwaiti government will expand cooperation on counter terrorism and intelligence sharing, he said, adding both countries signed a bilateral agreement on "customs enforcement." The two also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for English language education, he added.

On the other hand, progress is being made on promoting "tremendous" Kuwaiti investments in the US, he revealed. Separately, he said there was still a chance for peace between the Palestinians Israelis through US efforts. Also on the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, the US president said a military option against North Korea, after its recent nuclear test, was possible but not inevitable but that Washington prefers to avoid it at the moment. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said he was confident that feuding Arab countries would overcome their differences as Qatar was ready to negotiate 13 demands set forth by the three Gulf countries and Egypt.

At a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Thursday, he expressed confidence in the "wisdom of our brothers in the Gulf," particularly when taking into account other regional developments in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Hopes to resolve the Gulf dispute were still open and "have not yet ended," he highlighted.

A response he had received by Qatar revealed that Doha would not accept the 13 demands, he said, adding that the solution was for all sides to sit down at one negotiating table, and outline "points that may harm the region and the interests of our friends." On the demands, he said that "any matters that affect sovereignty are unacceptable to us," underlining that Kuwait guarantees it would put pressure on Qatar amid efforts to prevent its exit from the GCC.

Separately, His Highness the Amir praised US commitment to the security and protection of Kuwait

Source: KUNA