Kuwait's Emir Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah discussed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday evening the enhancement of economic and defense cooperation between the two countries, alongside regional and international developments. This came during the Kuwaiti Emir's reception of Meloni and her accompanying delegation, on the occasion of her official visit to the country, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Kuwait's Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the meeting.
According to the agency, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and their development in various fields, and discussed expanding economic and defense cooperation to serve the interests of both countries. They also addressed issues of mutual interest and the latest regional and international developments, without further details. In this context, Kuwait and Italy signed two memoranda of understanding and a letter of intent to enhance direct investment and defense, military, and industrial cooperation, in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries.
The understandings included a memorandum to enhance direct investment between the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority and the Italian Trade Agency. The two sides also signed a letter of intent between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense and the Italian company "Leonardo" to develop defense capabilities and industrial cooperation. Another memorandum of understanding was signed for military cooperation in the fields of consultation and training between the Kuwaiti National Guard and the Italian Gendarmerie forces, "Carabinieri".
The visit comes as an extension of political consultations between the two countries, whose fifth round was held last September, focusing on defense cooperation, investments, and energy, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Military cooperation is one of the most prominent areas of Kuwaiti-Italian relations, as Kuwait signed a contract in 2016 to purchase 28 "Eurofighter Typhoon" fighters under an Italy-led program. On October 12, a defense cooperation agreement between the two countries entered into force, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Treaty Register.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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