India, Kuwait Hold FOC Talks on Trade, Energy, Defence, Ties

• India and Kuwait held the 7th Foreign Office Consultations to strengthen cooperation in politics, trade, defence, energy, culture, and people-to-people ties
• Both agreed to fast-track projects from PM Modi’s 2024 Kuwait visit, including the Joint Commission for Cooperation and Joint Working Groups
• Relations date back to 1961, with USD 10.2 B annual trade and over one million Indians in Kuwait

Recently, India and Kuwait have engaged the seventh round of the Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi. This negotiated bilateral engagement highlights the countries’ commitment to further their strategic partnership in other key areas, including politics, trade, investment, defence, energy and culture, and people to people sectors.

The meeting was co-chaired and led by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Aseem Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) and Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs, Kuwait. 

The MEA stated, "During the meeting, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. They discussed ongoing initiatives and avenues to further deepen the strategic partnership in various spheres, including political, trade, investment, defence, energy, culture and people-to-people ties".

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Both sides reached a consensus to expedite the initiatives per the plan outlined during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024. This included an emphasis on the need to expedite the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) to hold the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) meetings that had been deferred due to the inability to set agreeable dates. Moreover, the next round of consultations will be held in Kuwait and further discussions will be done.

"India and Kuwait share close historical and multifaceted relations. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at USD 10.2 billion per annum (FY 2024-25). The presence of over one million Indians in Kuwait is a testament to the strong people-to-people ties", according to MEA.

In 1961, following Kuwait's independence, India promptly opened a Trade Commissioner's office and became one of the earliest countries to foster diplomatic ties with Kuwait.

Their bilateral ties got further propelled in 2024 during the visit of PM Modi, which resulted in a strategic partnership, accompanied by expanded cooperation in several areas and the voiced intent of both leaders to deepen the engagement for mutual benefit. Both sides reaffirmed their aspirations to amplify cooperation and collaborate more on strategic challenges.