Bahrain–Kuwait Talks Yield New Agreements on Infrastructure, ICT and Education

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Manama: The Bahraini-Kuwaiti Joint Higher Committee convened its 12th meeting on Wednesday under the joint chairmanship of Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

 During the meeting, Dr. Al Zayani highlighted the deep-rooted historical relations between the two countries and their peoples, noting the continued development of bilateral ties under the guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait.

 He expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening cooperation across various fields, stressing the importance of advancing relations grounded in shared values, kinship, religion and mutual interests. Dr. Al Zayani also underlined the need for sustained coordination and consultation between the two foreign ministries on regional and international developments, particularly those affecting security and stability in the region.

 The Bahraini Foreign Minister emphasised the importance of joint action within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), especially during Bahrain’s current presidency of the Council, in a manner that supports collective Gulf objectives. He also highlighted the significance of coordination in light of Bahrain’s non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, noting the value of benefiting from Kuwait’s diplomatic experience during its previous Security Council membership in 2018–2019.

 For his part, Minister Al Yahya expressed pride in the strong and enduring ties between Bahrain and Kuwait, reaffirming Kuwait’s commitment to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in line with the directives of the leaderships of both countries. He praised Bahrain’s role in leading the current GCC session and stressed Kuwait’s support for the success of Bahrain’s presidency.

 Minister Al Yahya also congratulated Bahrain on assuming its seat on the UN Security Council, commending its balanced approach to regional and international issues. He noted that the partnership between the two countries reflects a strategic alignment based on shared positions and close political coordination.

 The two sides reviewed progress across multiple sectors and explored ways to further develop cooperation, particularly in investment, financial, commercial and development fields. As part of the meeting’s outcomes, several memoranda of understanding and executive programmes were signed, covering cooperation in standardisation and technical regulations, infrastructure development, communications and information technology, as well as education and sports.

 The agreements also aim to enhance collaboration in digital transformation, cybersecurity coordination, and regulatory alignment, supporting modernisation efforts and strengthening institutional integration between the two countries. These documents were signed alongside the joint minutes of the committee, formalising commitments reached during the discussions.

The meeting further addressed current regional and international developments and their implications for regional security, as well as Arab efforts to promote stability and resolve conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic means. Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination in international forums, particularly during Bahrain’s term on the Security Council.

 It was agreed that the 13th meeting of the Joint Higher Committee will be held in the State of Kuwait on a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.

Following the meeting, Minister Al Yahya visited Al Madar Centre at Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was briefed on the centre’s role in monitoring regional and international developments and preparing political reports and analyses.

 The Bahraini delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related institutions, reflecting the comprehensive scope of cooperation addressed during the session.