Kuwait’s Cabinet has placed the country’s armed forces on maximum operational readiness following recent Iranian attacks, while also ordering ministries to halt any unapproved contracts with external consulting firms.
The decisions were made during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Seif Palace on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The session focused on regional security developments and Kuwait’s defence posture after what the government described as renewed Iranian military attacks targeting the country at dawn last Sunday.
Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah briefed the Cabinet on the situation and said the armed forces are operating at peak readiness to protect Kuwait’s sovereignty, citizens and residents.
The Cabinet condemned the attacks as a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter, and said the country reserves its full right to take necessary measures to protect its territory and security.
It also condemned Iranian attacks that targeted civilian infrastructure in Bahrain, reaffirming Kuwait’s solidarity with Manama and stressing that Bahrain’s security is part of the collective security framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah briefed ministers on the recent GCC-US ministerial meeting in Bahrain, which reviewed regional security after a US-Iran memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.
The meeting’s final communique included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s commitment to GCC security. It also supported Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime borders and called on Iraq to honour its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 833.
The Cabinet also reviewed Mr Rubio’s visit to Kuwait last Wednesday, during which he met Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for talks on bilateral cooperation and regional stability.
On domestic governance, the Prime Minister instructed all ministries not to sign contracts with external consulting companies unless they first obtain direct approval from the Cabinet.
The Cabinet also offered condolences to Saudi Arabia after the fatal Aramco helicopter crash in Ras Tanura and to Qatar after a Qatari national was killed by shrapnel from regional military operations.
Ministers also reviewed reports and committee minutes before referring several matters to relevant authorities for further study.