Kurdistan Region–Kuwait relations are bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region[1] and Kuwait. While Kurdistan Region has no representation in Kuwait, the latter has a consulate general in Erbil, the capital city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, since 2015.[2][3] Relations were described as a 'historic friendship' and 'brotherly in 2018, and as "deep-rooted" in 2022.[4][5] Kuwait has substantial economic investments in the Kurdish region which amounted to over $2 billion in 2017.[6][7][8]
Politically, Kuwait is interested in establishing close relations to Kurdistan, especially since it could fragment Iraq more, which would reduce the threat of a second invasion.[7]
High-ranking meetings
In 2013, Kurdish President Barzani visited Kuwait City and met with the Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah[9] In 2015, a Kuwaiti governmental delegation visited Kurdistan and met with the Kurdish President Masoud Barzani.[8] In 2017, Kuwait responded to the Kurdish independence referendum by expressing their concern about the referendum breaching the Iraqi constitution or damage Iraqi–Kurdish relations.[8] In November 2018, Barzani visited Kuwait again and met with the Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Defence Minister Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to discuss the regional political developments.[10]
After Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was announced Emir of Kuwait in September 2020, the Emir and the Kurdish President held talks in October that year.[11]
^While Kurdistan Region refers to the autonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is a geographical term referring to the Kurdish area of Iraq
