KUWAIT CITY, March 3, (KUNA): The European countries that manufacture Eurofighter jets throw their support behind Kuwait in its bid to purchase a number of these jets for the Kuwaiti armed forces, said Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al- Jarrah Al-Sabah in a press statement on Thursday.

The manufacturing countries seek expedition of signing a final agreement sealing the purchasing deal, said the defense minister after having concluded a meeting in his office with these countries’ ambassadors to Kuwait. He added that he discussed with the ambassadors means of enhancing mutual relations in providing the latest armament with which to equip the Kuwaiti armed forces.

Supplying the armed forces with the Eurofighter jets would unquestionably boost the fighting capabilities of these forces and deepen strategic and political ties with the manufacturing countries, said the minister.

This purchase falls within the Ministry of Defense’s strategic plans to upgrade the ministry’s hardware for the next few years, he said.

The Kuwaiti minister’s meeting was with ambassadors of Italy, UK, Spain, and Germany. Kuwait had signed last September a memorandum of understanding with Italy to purchase 28 Eurofighter military jets, making Kuwait the eighth country buying this type of jets.