Belgium Announces Closure of its Kuwait Embassy

22/11/2025

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 22: The Belgian government has announced an extensive plan to restructure its diplomatic network worldwide, which includes closing eight diplomatic missions, among them the Belgian embassy in Kuwait, according to a statement issued by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévost explained that geopolitical shifts, trade tensions, and rising conflicts along Europe’s borders have made a comprehensive reassessment of diplomatic deployments necessary. The objective is not to diminish bilateral relations but to reallocate resources in order to improve external effectiveness.

Under the plan, Belgium will close eight diplomatic missions in 2026 and 2027, as well as open five new missions and strengthen around 20 existing ones to deal with the growing political and economic challenges. The expansions include opening a new mission in Muscat, and strengthening the diplomatic presence in Riyadh and Doha, reflecting Belgium’s strategy to enhance its role in the Middle East, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, and investment.

Prévost stated that the plan aims to increase Belgium’s diplomatic impact by refocusing missions on priority regions. He emphasized that the closure of certain embassies does not indicate a decline in bilateral relations, but rather an effort to improve efficiency through better resource allocation, adding that these adjustments are set to be implemented gradually starting next year and continuing through 2027.