India, Kuwait sign key agreement on defence cooperation

In what can be seen as a new chapter in New Delhi's strategic cooperation with the countries in the Gulf region, India and Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defence cooperation on December 22 even as the two sides elevated the bilateral relationship to that of a 'Strategic Partnership'.

- AROONIM BHUYAN

The MoU on defence cooperation was among four agreements that were signed following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. Modi's visit to Kuwait was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited the Gulf state way back in 1981.

"I would like to reiterate that we are pretty confident that this historic visit of the Prime Minister will open up a new chapter in the relationship between India and Kuwait," Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs said during a media briefing in Kuwait City at the end of Modi's visit. "Both the sides have been able to identify several important areas of cooperation and the governments will be working towards fulfillment of the plans during this visit."

Speaking specifically on the defence cooperation agreement, Chatterjee said that it would institutionalise bilateral cooperation in this area.

"Key areas of cooperation include training, exchange of personnel and experts, joint exercises, cooperation in defence industry, supply of defence equipment, and collaboration in research and development, among others," he stated.

India's defence cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has gained strategic importance in recent years.