Manama: Developments in the region, particularly in Syria and Yemen, and progress on the Middle East Strategic Alliance will be high on the agenda of the talks that US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will have in Kuwait.
The US official will arrive in the Northern Arabian Gulf country on Tuesday and will co-chair the third US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue meeting.
The dialogue will focus on many areas of growing US-Kuwait bilateral cooperation, including defence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, strengthening trade and investment ties, and education, the State Department said.
“The Secretary will also meet with Kuwaiti leaders to discuss important regional issues, such as Yemen and Syria, as well as progress on the Middle East Strategic Alliance and the need for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unity in order to confront the region’s challenges and advance prosperity, security, and stability.”
Kuwait on Monday welcomed Pompeo’s visit, saying that it will be a significant opportunity to sign several agreements between the two countries in the defence and security areas and in customs cooperation.
“We welcome Pompeo’s visit to Kuwait and we look forward to its contribution to reinforcing our strategic cooperation and enhancing its various areas,” Khalid Al Jarallah, the deputy foreign minister, said.
“We are also looking forward to the success of the talks that will be held between the US Secretary of State and the Kuwaiti official. The talks will cover the various fields of cooperation, especially the economy, investments and energy, in addition to security and military cooperation, with a focus on the efforts of both countries in combating terrorism and drying up its sources of its funding,” he told Kuwait News Agency.
Al Jarallah said that the talks would also address the hot issues in the region, mainly the situation in Yemen and Syria.
Pompeo was scheduled to visit Kuwait in January as part of his nine-state tour in the region, but he had to cut his trip short and go home to attend a family funeral.
On March 15, the State Department said that Pompeo would travel to Beirut, Jerusalem, and Kuwait City on March 19-23.
In Beirut, the Secretary will meet Lebanese leaders to discuss the political, security, economic, and humanitarian challenges facing Lebanon. The Secretary’s visit will underscore US support for the Lebanese people and Lebanon’s legitimate state institutions, the department said.
“In Jerusalem, the Secretary will meet Israeli officials to engage on critical regional issues, including countering the Iranian regime’s malign influence and reaffirming the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. The Secretary will also discuss the Administration’s dedication to monitoring and combatting anti-Semitism. While in Jerusalem, the Secretary will also participate in a meeting with Israeli, Cypriot, and Greek leaders to discuss key energy and security issues facing the Eastern Mediterranean region.”
