Kuwait, Pakistan PMs meet at COP31 to boost ties

Two prime ministers sat down together far from home, and the conversation was all about Kuwait and Pakistan working more closely together.

Kuwait’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, met Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. Sheikh Ahmad was representing His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, at the event. For readers who follow Kuwait’s international news, this is part of a steady pattern of Kuwait using global summits to hold one-on-one talks with other leaders.

What did the two leaders actually talk about?

According to the readout of the meeting, the two sides reviewed the bilateral relationship between Kuwait and Pakistan. They talked about frameworks to strengthen what was described as a strategic relationship between the two countries.

The discussion also covered cooperation between Kuwait and Pakistan across different fields. The goal, as described, is to serve the shared interests of both countries and both peoples. This kind of broad language is typical for a first high-level meeting at a summit, where leaders set the tone before officials work out details later.

Beyond bilateral matters, the two prime ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest. The source did not specify which issues came up, so it’s not yet confirmed what topics beyond general relations were discussed in detail.

Why was this meeting happening at a climate summit?

COP31 is the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It’s the main global meeting where countries negotiate on climate change policy. This year’s summit, held in Antalya, Turkey, brought together a Leaders’ Summit where heads of state and government gather alongside the formal climate negotiations.

These summits often become a useful venue for separate bilateral meetings, since many leaders are in one place at the same time. The Kuwait-Pakistan meeting took place on the sidelines of the summit rather than as part of the formal climate agenda itself.

Who else was in the room?

The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Oil, Tareq Sulaiman Al-Roumi. Also present was Sheikh Khaled Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, who is acting head of the Prime Minister’s Diwan (the office that supports the Prime Minister’s work). Ambassador Sadiq Mohammad Marafie, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organisations Affairs, also attended.

The presence of the Oil Minister at a climate summit meeting is worth noting, though the source does not say whether oil or energy cooperation specifically came up in the talks with Pakistan.

What does this mean for people in Kuwait?

Kuwait is home to a large Pakistani community, made up of workers, families and students who have lived here for years. High-level talks like this one don’t change daily life immediately, but they often lay the groundwork for agreements on labour, trade or travel that come later.

For Pakistani nationals in Kuwait, meetings like this are usually a sign that both governments want to keep communication open at the top level. For other residents, it’s a reminder that Kuwait continues to use international platforms like COP31 to manage its foreign relations, not just climate policy.

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