By Nasser Al-Otaibi
KUWAIT, Jan 12 (KUNA) -- Kuwait hosts next Tuesday the 3rd Kuwait-US Strategic Dialogue Session, to be co-chaired by the two countries' foreign ministers, with aim of further cementing relations and cooperation to new levels.
The previous Strategic Dialogue sessions were held in the US in 2016 and 2017, during which the two countries signed cooperation agreements and memoranda of understandings (MoUs) over security, counter-terrorism, economy, trade, education, oil, custom and consular affairs, raising to 23 number of deals between the two countries.
This year's session will be co-chaired by Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The strategic dialogue will set a roadmap for cooperation between Kuwait and the US for the next 25 years in different fields. Trade exchange amounted to USD four billion and Kuwait was investing USD 400 billion in the US.
Kuwait and the US are also important players in the counter-terrorism efforts as well as in the global fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS).
The two countries seek, through strategic dialogue, to boost cooperation and coordination over regional and international issues, US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman said.
The dialogue, he told KUNA Saturday, was a foundation for "our continuous work" and was supported the leaderships in the two countries.
Since the strategic dialogue was established in October 2016, said Silverman, work groups began implementing cooperation means in defense, trade, security, investment, consular affairs and education.
Relations between the Kuwaiti and American armies are excellent, he said, and the US commitment to defending Kuwait's security was firm.
Silverman said the US was providing technical support for Kuwait army and security forces. He added US and Kuwaiti military personnel were working together on training of Kuwait armed forces.
America is the second largest exporter of goods and services to Kuwait, said Silverman.
The US, he affirmed, welcomed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's initiatives aimed at maintaining security of Kuwait, as well as achieving security and stability in the region.
Kuwait also played a key role in regional issues, he said, hosting donor conferences for Syria and an international meeting for the reconstruction of Iraq last February.
Silverman also noted Kuwait's leading humanitarian role in the region and the world.
The US delegation to the strategic dialogue will exchange views over pressing regional challenges including Yemen, Syria and Iran, said Silverman, in addition to bolstering counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination within the UN Security Council.
Among authorities taking part in the dialogue from Kuwait are Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defense and Higher Education, Directorate General for Civl Aviation, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion authority (KDIPA), Kuwait Investment Authority, National Security Bureau, Directorate of Custom, and Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA). (end) nmo.bs