On December 22, 2024, during a two-day visit to Kuwait, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwaiti leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to regularize cooperation in the defense sector, alongside agreements in culture and sports.
During his visit, Modi emphasized the deep historical ties between India and Kuwait, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in four decades. The MoU aims to strengthen bilateral defense relations, including joint military exercises, training of defense personnel, coastal defense, maritime security, and the joint development and production of defense equipment.
Both nations condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for disrupting financing networks and destroying terrorist infrastructure. A joint statement following Modi's visit highlighted an appreciation for existing cooperation in security and an agreement to enhance collaboration in anti-terrorism campaigns, intelligence sharing, and tackling international crimes such as money laundering and drug trafficking.
Discussions also included enhancing cybersecurity cooperation to prevent the use of cyberspace for promoting terrorism and extremism. The two sides expressed interest in advancing collaboration in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.
Kuwait showed interest in ensuring food security through collaboration with India, discussing investment opportunities in food parks. India welcomed Kuwait's decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a significant step towards promoting sustainable energy solutions.
Both countries stressed the need for meetings of the newly formed Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) and Joint Working Groups (JWG) to expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
In addition to the defense MoU, an executive program for cooperation in sports for 2025-2028 and a cultural exchange program for 2025-2029 were also signed. Indian and Kuwaiti sports figures will visit each other's countries to share experiences and participate in various sports-related initiatives.
During his visit, Modi was awarded Kuwait's highest honor, the Order of Mubarak Al Kabir, marking the 20th international honor he has received from a foreign country. This knighthood is typically awarded to heads of state, foreign rulers, and members of royal families as a symbol of friendship.
Modi also visited a labor camp in Kuwait housing approximately 1,500 Indian workers, highlighting the significant presence of the Indian community, which constitutes 21% of Kuwait's total population and 30% of its workforce.