Kuwait formalizes five‑year defence partnership with Pakistan

Kuwait has ratified a five‑year Defence Cooperation Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan after a three‑year delay in legal procedures. The pact, enacted by Amiri Decree No. 73 of 2026, integrates the previously signed June 2023 accord into national law and provides a framework for joint military training, defence education, intelligence sharing, logistics, and defence technology development.

The agreement outlines a 12‑point plan covering cooperation between the Kuwait Armed Forces and the Pakistan Armed Forces, the establishment of a Joint Military Committee to oversee exercises and exchanges, and strict confidentiality for sensitive military information. It runs for five years with automatic renewal unless either side terminates it, but it does not contain a mutual defence clause, distinguishing it from Pakistan’s separate strategic pact with Saudi Arabia.

The deal reflects Gulf states’ shift toward diversifying security partnerships amid regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and Houthi attacks on maritime routes, and uncertainty over long‑term US security commitments.