Kuwait: President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, is set to commence an official visit to Kuwait on Sunday, focusing on reinforcing nearly 60 years of bilateral relations and exploring avenues for joint cooperation across various sectors. Bilateral relations between Kuwait and Switzerland are seen as a successful model of diplomatic engagement, with both nations showing a commitment to consolidating ties and coordinating on regional and international issues of shared interest.
According to Kuwait News Agency, diplomatic relations between the two countries officially began on June 16, 1966, with the establishment of a Swiss consulate in Kuwait City. In the same year, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed as Consul General of Kuwait to Switzerland, marking the first Kuwaiti diplomatic mission in the country. The Swiss government, in turn, assigned its ambassador to Lebanon as a non-resident ambassador to Kuwait. By the following year, Switzerland had an honorary consulate in Kuwait, with Murad Yousuf Behbehani serving as Honorary Consul.
Kuwait was the second Gulf nation to establish relations with Switzerland, setting a precedent for future diplomatic ties. Switzerland inaugurated its embassy in Kuwait in 1975, followed by Kuwait opening its embassy in Bern in 2006. In recent developments, the new Swiss Embassy headquarters in Kuwait was inaugurated in 2025, attended by prominent figures from both countries.
Kuwait fondly recalls Switzerland's supportive stance during the Iraqi invasion in 1990-91, highlighting Switzerland's role in supporting Kuwaiti students and addressing humanitarian issues through the International Committee of the Red Cross. The relationship has continued to evolve, marked by high-level meetings, such as the encounter between Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and former Swiss President Viola Amherd during the UN General Assembly in 2024.
Bilateral cooperation has been strengthened through various agreements and memoranda of understanding. Notable agreements include a 1998 investment protection agreement, a 1999 double taxation avoidance agreement, and a 2016 visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders. These agreements have been supplemented by ongoing political and security consultations and development cooperation initiatives.
Economic ties have flourished, with Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund investing over USD 15 billion in Switzerland, reflecting a strong confidence in Switzerland's investment landscape. Switzerland ranks as a key trading partner for Kuwait, with trade volumes reaching USD 783 million in 2021. The private sector collaboration traces back to the 1930s and was further bolstered in 2023 with the launch of the Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Platform.