By Ali Al-Herzi
KUWAIT, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti academics stressed the importance of the historic upcoming visit of the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to the country.
In separate interviews with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), they pointed out that several key and heated topics would be on the table of discussions between the visiting Saudi leader and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
They noted that the importance of the talks stems from the fact that the Kingdom is the strategic depth of the State of Kuwait.
They expected that the talks could also touch upon the Saudi proposal to develop the Gulf Cooperation Council to a union as to unite Gulf states in the face of impending challenges facing the region.
King Salman's visit came at a delicate time for the whole the region, Political Science Professor at Kuwait University (KU) Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghanim told KUNA, he noted that this was the first visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Kuwait since he assumed power.
Al-Ghanim indicated that the growing dangers and challenges in the region would feature high on the bilateral talks.
Topping the list was the terrorism threats, especially from groups such as the so-called Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda, as well as the ongoing war in Yemen and its economic cost and impact on the region's security and stability, he said.
He also expected that the two leaders would tackle the declining oil prices and its effects on the budgets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
In this regard, the GCC States were exerting relentless efforts to strike a balance on the oil market by cutting their production to stop the deterioration of oil prices, Al-Ghanim boasted.
He pointed out that the developments in crisis-hit regional countries such as Iraq, Syria and Yemen need thorough discussions from both leaders.
On the GCC, he clarified that the GCC was formed during the Iran-Iraq war in early 1980s to cement cooperation during that period and now as the challenges grow, work for the transformation to the union stage became more urgent.
He underlined that Saudi Arabia has been Kuwait's main strategist backer in crisis times such as the Iran-Iraq war and the subsequent Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
For his part, Academic and Political Researcher Dr. Ayed Al-Manaa Manaa pointed out that the wisdom of the two leaders and their experience in Arab, regional and international policy will increase the feasibility of the talks, especially as it comes after Manama summit.
Manaa stated that Kuwaiti-Saudi political, economic and cultural relations are deeply-rooted at the government and popular levels.
He pointed to the unforgettable supportive stance of Saudi Arabia during the brutal Iraqi invasion in 1990.
On the main dossiers to be opened during the visit, he pointed to bilateral relations, regional security, whether in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and its impact on the region as well as relations with Iran.
He underlined the importance of mulling the issue of requirements and steps needed to be taken before moving to the union stage.
Manaa stated that relations with the United States after the election of the President-elect Donald Trump and the recently passed the controversial JASTA law as well as the GCC efforts to diversify income resources and study post-oil stage could be discussed during the coming visit. (end) hrz.ibi