Kuwaiti Ambassador: Non-Aligned Spirit Remains Relevant

The Ambassador of Kuwait to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, Khalid Jassim Al-Yassin, stated that the spirit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) remains relevant to implement amidst current geopolitical turbulence.

He noted that nations worldwide currently require the strengthening of cooperation and multilateralism, as illustrated by the ‘Bandung Spirit’ which emerged from the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) in Bandung, West Java, in 1955.

“I believe we do not need polarisation in international relations today. We need to encourage more cooperation, rather than forming alliances that create barriers for one another,” said Khalid Jassim Al-Yassin at the ANTARA Heritage Center, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

He stated that Kuwait has applied these non-aligned values for many years. The nation, located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, maintains strong ties with the United States following the significant role played by the US in the Liberation of Kuwait in 1991.

However, he noted that Kuwait’s primary trading partner over the last decade has been China. Furthermore, Kuwait was the first country in the Persian Gulf region to establish cooperation with the Soviet Union in the early 1970s.

“We do not wish to be an enemy to anyone, because our focus is on how we can work together, and we attempt to prioritise commonalities and shared values, rather than things that could differentiate us from other parties,” said Khalid.

He stated that the Non-Aligned Movement remains one of the core principles of Kuwait’s foreign policy. His country does not wish to create blocs or ally with specific parties to oppose others.

He added that the Kuwaiti Government always upholds the United Nations (UN) Charter and complies with all applicable international laws.

“Another key principle (of Kuwait’s foreign policy) is non-interference in the affairs of other nations. We will not dictate how a government should run its own country,” said Khalid.