Kuwait ratifies Pakistan defense pact

Kuwait has ratified a broad defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan, three years after it was signed in June 2023. The agreement, formalized through Decree-Law No. 73/2026 and published in Kuwait's official gazette, establishes a framework for military cooperation covering training, education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defense technology, research, and exchanges of expertise. It also includes provisions for military manufacturing, electronic communications, scientific research, military media, and cultural activities. A joint military committee will oversee implementation, including joint exercises and official visits. The pact is valid for five years and automatically renews. The ratification follows high-level contacts between Kuwaiti and Pakistani military officials. Separately, reports indicate that Pakistan and Kuwait are negotiating an expanded defense agreement that could include thousands of Pakistani troops, fighter jets, drones, and air defense systems, in exchange for energy cooperation and investments. However, a Pakistani official stated that deployment of combat troops is not under consideration at this stage. The agreement comes amid heightened regional security challenges, with Kuwait having been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks during recent escalations. Kuwait's Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah is scheduled to visit Islamabad on July 28-29 to discuss bilateral relations.