Belgian special envoy hails Kuwait-Belgium ties and regional role

KUWAIT: Belgian Special Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, Johan Verkammen, has lauded the “excellent” bilateral relations between Belgium and Kuwait, emphasizing ongoing cooperation in trade, diplomacy and investment. In an interview during his visit to Kuwait for the EU-GCC meeting, Verkammen outlined the growing partnership between the two countries and Europe’s vision for peace in the Middle East. He stated “We had senior Belgian officials visiting Kuwait early this year, followed by a trade mission of over 40 Belgian companies in April.

“In the summer, Kuwaiti high officials visited Brussels for political consultations. Our interaction is frequent and constructive.” The envoy also highlighted Kuwait’s economic footprint in Belgium, particularly through the Kuwait Investment Authority and the Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), which operates fuel stations across Belgium. “Every Belgian sees Kuwait daily through your gas stations,” he added, underscoring the close economic presence. He praised Kuwait’s diplomatic stance in the Middle East, saying “Kuwait has a very balanced position, maintaining excellent relations with all regional players.

That makes Kuwait a valuable interlocutor for us a partner without a double agenda.” Addressing the situation in Gaza, Verkammen expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for a ceasefire. He said “Let’s first hope that a ceasefire finally materializes. It once seemed out of reach, but now there’s real hope,” crediting international efforts including Gulf States for helping push peace efforts forward. He emphasized that the Gulf countries played a crucial political role in making the current ceasefire proposal possible, adding “Without their involvement, the deal would not have been accepted by anyone.”

Belgian Special Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, Johan Verkammen

Looking ahead, he stressed that sustained international pressure will be vital to maintain peace and rebuild Gaza, indicating “Europe, together with the Gulf, must use both political and financial leverage to ensure progress. The EU remains the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, and we must use that influence wisely.” On economic cooperation, Verkammen confirmed that efforts are underway to revive long-stalled free trade negotiations between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council. He pointed out “This idea has been on the table for too long. The geopolitical context is different now, and there’s growing awareness in Europe of the importance of finalizing such an agreement.”

The discussions, halted since 2008, gained new momentum after last year’s EU-GCC summit. Verkammen also reaffirmed Belgium’s recognition of the State of Palestine and the EU’s continued support for a two-state solution. He added “We want a Palestinian state that lives in peace alongside Israel, based on the 1967 borders, unless other borders are agreed. It’s a long and difficult process, but there’s no alternative to the two-state solution.”

He acknowledged internal debate within the Belgian government over the recognition decision but described it as “a moral and political necessity.” “It was not an easy decision. But given what was happening in Gaza, our government could not remain silent. At the same time, we remain committed to Israel’s right to security,” he stated. Verkammen confirmed ongoing talks about a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Belgium and Kuwait in the health sector, while expressing interest in further collaboration in transport and port management.

“We see great potential, especially in port cooperation through the Port of Antwerp,” he said. Commenting on the war in Ukraine, Verkammen said the situation remains deeply troubling, explaining “Unfortunately, Russian President Putin does not seem to want peace. The European Union will continue doing everything possible to stop this aggression and restore peace.”