03/11/2026
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03/11/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 3: The Italian Embassy in Kuwait hosted a reception at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel on November 3 to celebrate Italy's National Day, Italian Unity and Armed Forces Day, bringing together senior Kuwaiti officials, diplomats, military representatives and members of the diplomatic and business communities.
The reception was hosted by the Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Kuwait H.E. Lorenzo Morini and Italian Defense Attaché Col. Michele Rega, who welcomed the chief guest, H.E. Hamad Suleiman Mashaan Al-Mashaan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with other distinguished guests.
In his address, Ambassador Morini described the Kuwaiti-Italian relationship as a strategic partnership founded on mutual trust, shared values and principles, emphasizing the longstanding friendship between the two countries and their peoples.
He said the strong bilateral relationship had been reaffirmed during the recent visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Kuwait, where she was received at Bayan Palace by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Morini, who attended the high-level meeting, described the visit as a historic moment in bilateral relations that paved the way for a significant strengthening of cooperation between the two governments and peoples.
He highlighted the signing of several important agreements and the adoption of the Italy-Kuwait Action Plan 2027-2030, describing it as a roadmap for expanding cooperation over the next four years.
The action plan covers a broad range of areas, including political dialogue, defense and security, economic cooperation, judicial collaboration, creative industries, cultural heritage, social policies and environmental issues.
The ambassador said implementing the action plan would be one of his main priorities in the coming months, adding that he looked forward to working closely with Kuwaiti authorities, educational institutions, public and private sector representatives and civil society to achieve the objectives agreed upon by the two countries' leaders.
Italian Armed Forces' historic role in Kuwait
A significant part of Ambassador Morini's speech focused on the contribution of the Italian Armed Forces to Kuwait and regional stability, particularly during periods of conflict and uncertainty.
He said the presence of Italian military personnel in Kuwait represented tangible evidence of the friendship and close ties between the two countries.
Recalling Italy's role in Kuwait's liberation in 1991, Morini said Italian forces had stood alongside Kuwait during difficult times and had subsequently supported the modernization of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces.
He also highlighted the contribution of Italian military personnel to regional stabilization following the Second Gulf War and their longstanding participation in Kuwait as members of the international coalition against Daesh.
Italian troops remained in Kuwait during regional crisis
Morini particularly emphasized the decision of Italian military personnel and Embassy staff to remain in Kuwait during the recent regional crisis, despite the security threats and attacks.
He revealed that approximately 400 Italian soldiers were stationed in Kuwait last February, most of them at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
When the conflict erupted, the Italian troops remained in the country despite coming under heavy attack and spending several weeks in shelters under extremely difficult conditions.
The ambassador said their decision reflected Italy's commitment to standing alongside Kuwait, recognizing that the Kuwaiti Armed Forces might need the support of international partners during the crisis.
He stressed that the Italian military personnel and Embassy staff remained in Kuwait even during the most intense phase of the conflict because, as he put it, true friends stand by one another in times of need.
"We have been at your side and we will always be," Morini declared, reaffirming Italy's commitment to its friendship with Kuwait.
He described Italians and Kuwaitis as people of honor who keep their word, saying this mutual commitment formed the fundamental pillar of relations between the two countries.
Tribute to fallen Italian service members
The ambassador also paid tribute to Italian military personnel who lost their lives or were injured while serving in international peacekeeping missions.
He specifically recalled the victims of the Nassiriya attack in Iraq, Italian soldiers killed in Lebanon and those who lost their lives in the recent tragic accident in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Concluding his address, Morini thanked the sponsors and partners who supported the organization of the reception and praised the Italian Embassy team for its efforts in arranging the celebration.
He ended his speech with a message celebrating the friendship between the two nations: "Viva l'Italia! Viva il Kuwait!"
by John C Fernandes
Online Media Manager
Arab Times
