Page 10 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL 12

We have to always be ready to defend ourselves. It is like though you are healthy, you still have to take good care of yourselfexample, Kuwait and the UAE have a very good knowledge and information exchange and a sharing relationship. We watch and learn from each other, like brothers.From our independence in 1961 until 2004, the leaders of Iraq always sought opportunities to annex Kuwait, claiming a historic right to us. The Gulf War under the lead of Saddam Hussein was the worst of their invasions even though the occupation did not last long as we fought to defend our sovereignty and were well supported by other nations. However, we left that chapter behind and have developed a good diplomatic relationship with them. Kuwait has an embassy in Baghdad as well as consulates general in Basra and Erbil.Is national security an issue of concern right now?No, but Kuwait does and will do whatever it takes to maintain the security and stability of our nation as well as the Persian Gulf region. There are security problems in our region and we have to take precautions. We have to always be ready to defend ourselves. It is like though you are healthy, you still have to take good care of yourself. One of our precautions is our Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, which followed their lead in the expulsion of the Iraqi invasion in 1991.8 Elite+