MFA Press Statement: Visit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman to the State of Kuwait, 7 to 8 May 2017

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman and Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Sulaiman Al Jarallah signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of bilateral consultations between our respective Foreign Ministries, 7 May 2017. [Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore]

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman called on former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 8 May 2017. [Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore]

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Maliki Osman visited the Singapore Armed Forces troops deployed in Kuwait as part of the multinational coalition against ISIS, 8 May 2017. [Photo credit: Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore]

                Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman made his introductory visit to the State of Kuwait from 7 to 8 May 2017.  During his visit, SMS Maliki met with Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Sulaiman Al Jarallah, and conveyed President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam’s invitation to the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, to make a State Visit to Singapore.  SMS Maliki and Deputy FM Al Jarallah also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of bilateral consultations between the respective Foreign Ministries.

                SMS Maliki also met with the Chief of General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces Lieutenant General Mohammed Khaled Al Khadhar. SMS conveyed Singapore’s appreciation for Kuwait’s support in the deployment of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)’s Imagery Analysis Team (IAT), stationed in Kuwait as part of Singapore’s contribution to the multinational coalition to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  SMS called separately on the President of Kuwait’s National Security Bureau Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah and had a wide-ranging discussion on regional security developments and ways to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

                Earlier today, SMS Maliki visited the SAF’s IAT deployed in Kuwait, and received an update on the SAF’s contributions in support of operations by the multinational anti-ISIS coalition.  On 7 May, SMS hosted a reception for the Singaporean community in Kuwait, and interacted with more than two dozen Singaporean students studying on scholarship programmes in Kuwait’s Maha Al Dini school and Kuwait University. SMS Maliki also called on the former Prime Minister of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, who hosted lunch for SMS Maliki and his accompanying delegation.

                SMS Maliki will depart Kuwait for Lebanon later this evening.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
8 MAY 2017