Pakistan has welcomed Kuwait’s ratification of the 2023 Pakistan–Kuwait Defence Cooperation Agreement, describing the move as a significant step towards strengthening the longstanding strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations. The development was announced by the Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday following Kuwait’s formal approval of the agreement, which aims to institutionalise and broaden bilateral defence cooperation across multiple sectors.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Tahir Andrabi said the ratification marked “another important milestone in the longstanding defence partnership between the two brotherly countries, dating back to the early 1980s.”
He added that the agreement reflected the shared determination of both countries to deepen defence ties and elevate their broader security partnership.
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Statement by the Spokesperson
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A Comprehensive Defence Framework
The agreement establishes a structured institutional framework for expanding military cooperation between Pakistan and Kuwait. It covers a wide range of areas, including military training, joint exercises, exchanges of expertise, defence technology cooperation and other mutually agreed fields of collaboration. According to the Foreign Office, the pact is expected to strengthen institutional linkages between the armed forces of both countries while consolidating decades of defence cooperation built on mutual trust and shared strategic interests. The two governments also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the agreement in accordance with its provisions to further expand defence collaboration and contribute to regional peace, security and stability.
Key Highlights of the Expanded Agreement
The newly ratified pact significantly broadens the scope of bilateral cooperation through several important initiatives, including:
- Formalising a five-year framework for joint military exercises, logistics cooperation, scientific research and defence technology collaboration.
- Expanding bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in energy, information technology, agriculture, mining and healthcare.
- Establishing an annual Joint Military Committee responsible for overseeing implementation of the agreement, facilitating expert exchanges and coordinating future defence initiatives.
- Reaffirming both countries’ commitment to regional peace, Gulf security, coordinated diplomatic engagement and consultations on developments in the Middle East.
These measures demonstrate that the agreement extends beyond traditional military engagement by integrating defence cooperation with broader economic and strategic partnerships.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister’s Visit Strengthens Momentum
The announcement coincided with the conclusion of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s official visit to Pakistan.
During the visit, the Kuwaiti foreign minister held separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. According to the Foreign Office, Ishaq Dar noted that the defence cooperation agreement would further strengthen institutional links between the armed forces of both countries. In response, Sheikh Jarrah appreciated Pakistan’s steadfast support, its constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability, and the deep fraternal relationship shared by the two nations.
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Expanding Cooperation Beyond Defence
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed the visiting Kuwaiti foreign minister and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to broadening cooperation beyond security. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both sides expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to enhance collaboration in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, information technology, maritime affairs and human resource development.
The high-level meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, along with federal ministers responsible for defence, commerce, petroleum, communications, maritime affairs, national food security and other senior government officials. With Kuwait’s formal ratification now complete, the defence cooperation agreement provides both countries with a long-term institutional roadmap to deepen military coordination while simultaneously expanding strategic and economic engagement. The development reinforces Pakistan-Kuwait relations as both nations seek closer cooperation in support of regional stability, shared security interests and broader bilateral growth.
