Kuwait has ratified a broad defence cooperation agreement with Pakistan, three years after its initial signing in June 2023, media reports from the Gulf country have confirmed.
The agreement, approved through Decree-Law No. 73 of 2026 and published in Kuwait’s official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, establishes a framework for armed forces cooperation.
The pact focuses on military training, education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defence technology, research and technical exchanges.
The scope extends to military manufacturing, electronic communications systems, scientific research, military media and joint cultural and sports initiatives. A joint military committee will manage implementation through exercises, official visits and joint programs.
Carrying a five-year term that renews automatically, the agreement obligates both nations to safeguard confidential military information and resolve disputes via diplomatic channels.
The formal ratification came days after an international media outlet reported that Pakistan and Kuwait were negotiating an expanded defence agreement tied to investment and energy cooperation, citing five sources familiar with the discussions.
At the time of the report, those discussions were described as being at an early stage, with potential complications arising from ongoing military strikes between the United States (US) and Iran.
While Kuwait had held a limited defence arrangement with Pakistan for joint exercises and training dating back to 2023, it was seeking a broader framework similar to Pakistan’s agreement with Saudi Arabia.
A Pakistani official noted that Kuwait’s request included thousands of Pakistani troops on the ground, fighter jets, drones, air defence systems and related military facilities.
Uncertainty remained over whether Pakistan would accede to those terms, given the deep historical context of its alliance with Saudi Arabia.
“Kuwait’s wish list includes everything,” a Pakistani security official with knowledge of the negotiations stated. “But let me be clear about one thing: We are not and we cannot consider a deployment of combat troops at this stage.”
A Middle Eastern source confirmed that conversations surrounding defence procurement were active, while noting it was unclear if the dialogue would produce a formal defence pact per se.
Under the potential broader agreement, Islamabad aimed for energy security cooperation to support ongoing efforts by the Pakistani energy ministry to expand national oil and fuel reserves.
