Modi's Visit to Kuwait is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait since 1981, marking a significant diplomatic step.
Kuwait is a key member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and has a large Indian expatriate community , the largest among all foreign communities in the country.
Kuwait has deep historical trade and travel links with India, with Kuwait serving as a key trading hub for India in the past.
Until 1961, the Indian rupee was legal tender in Kuwait.
Bilateral trade exceeds $10 billion, and Kuwait is a vital supplier of crude oil and LPG to India, meeting 3% of its energy needs.
While people-to-people and trade relations have been strong, strategic and defence cooperation had lagged, partly due to India’s past ties with Iraq. Modi’s visit aimed to address this gap.
An MoU was signed to institutionalize defence cooperation between the two countries, marking a new phase in strategic relations.
The Kuwaiti government awarded Modi its highest honour, the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, recognizing the importance of the visit.
The visit occurred amid regional instability, including conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen, and challenges in Syria.
This adds urgency to strengthening India’s ties with Gulf nations for energy security and regional influence.
Despite opposition criticism of frequent foreign visits, Modi’s diplomacy underscores the need for India to increase its global outreach, especially in turbulent times.
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