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Kuwait vital partner in safeguarding sea lanes: EU naval commander
KUWAIT: Commander of the European Union Naval Force (Aspidis), Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, has described Kuwait as a vital trade partner, underscoring the importance of strengthening cooperation to safeguard international sea lanes, protect global trade and address related challenges. In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday during his official visit to the country at the invitation of the Ministry of Defense, Gryparis said his meetings with Assistant Commander of the Naval Force Brig Gen Nasser Al-Mutairi focused on ways to deepen partnership with Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, given their shared commercial and security interests.
He stressed the need to expand information exchange and participation in joint efforts to secure sea lanes, noting that such cooperation would enhance Aspidis’ ability to protect maritime trade — a vital lifeline for both regional countries and Europe. Launched in February 2024, Aspidis operates in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and northwest Indian Ocean to secure international shipping lanes. Despite deploying only two naval vessels to cover a vast area, Gryparis said the force has successfully protected more than 1,200 ships.
He recalled the force’s intervention in preventing a potential environmental disaster involving an oil tanker carrying three times the capacity of the Exxon Valdez — whose 1989 spill off Alaska was one of the world’s worst ecological crises. The Red Sea operation, he noted, safeguarded desalination plants, fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Gryparis warned that growing threats to maritime navigation risk undermining the rule of law, destabilizing global trade and weakening international order. He stressed that the success of Aspidis depends on bolstering cooperation with Kuwait and other GCC states. Since its launch, he added, the force has maintained regular engagement with GCC countries, recognizing their crucial role in ensuring freedom of navigation and protecting the global trade routes on which the world economy depends. — KUNA
CAIRO: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Monday reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening joint Arab social and developmental efforts to uphold human rights and promote social justice. Delivering her speech at the 82nd session of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, held at the League of Arab States headquarters in Egypt, Dr Al-Huwailah opened by expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death of three Amiri Diwan employees in a traffic accident in Sharm El-Sheikh, offering condolences to the families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
She expressed pride in Kuwait’s participation in the session, which addressed key social and developmental issues, and expressed hope it would yield decisions supporting social justice policies and the empowerment of women, girls, and persons with disabilities, particularly in political participation and gender equality. Dr Al-Huwailah noted that the session would adopt the draft agenda for the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and prepare for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled in Doha next November. She emphasized Kuwait’s aspiration for Arab countries to make a strong and active presence at these events, showcasing development achievements and exchanging experiences in social care.
Officials are pictured during the meeting. – KUNA photos
Highlighting Kuwait’s role, she said the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and the Public Authority for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities are committed to following up on the implementation of Council decisions, ensuring coordination that respects diversity and privacy while promoting social justice.
Dr Al-Huwailah concluded by thanking Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity and Head of the Executive Office Dr Maya Morsi for the warm reception and efficient organization. She also praised Egypt’s efforts in hosting the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and its unwavering support for ending the conflict in Palestine. The Executive Office meetings are chaired by Egypt, with membership including Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the Comoros, Lebanon and Libya, alongside the participation of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, represented by Minister Plenipotentiary Enas Al-Farjani.- KUNA
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