Kuwait – Meeting between Jean-Yves Le Drian and his counterpart (Paris, 17 January 2018)

The minister for Europe and foreign affairs will congratulate his interlocutor on Kuwait’s election to the UN Security Council for a period of two years, beginning in January 17, 2018. The ministers will take stock of the main issues dealt with by the Security Council, the presidency of which Kuwait will assume in February.

The discussions will mainly focus on the regional and humanitarian crises, which are shared priorities for our two countries. Kuwait, a key player in regional dialogue, and the only Arab member of the Security Council, is a key partner of France. With respect to Syria as well as Yemen, the ministers will reaffirm the urgent need for a political solution to these crises and for safe, continuous and unrestricted humanitarian access to the populations in need. With respect to Iraq, Jean-Yves Le Drian will notably lend France’s support to the Kuwaiti initiative for a conference on reconstruction due to take place from February 12 to 14. He will reaffirm our support for Kuwait’s efforts to ease tensions within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (CCASG). Jean-Yves Le Drian will confirm his next visit to Kuwait.

The ministers will also examine the bilateral efforts needed to strengthen our cooperation in the areas of French language and culture, the economy, academic exchanges and health.