EAM Jaishankar to visit Kuwait next week

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will visit Kuwait next week. The visit comes in the backdrop of the country reaching out to India amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with assistance. Infact, 

India and Kuwait established a maritime bridge for transport of medical oxygen and oxygen carrying equipment. The bridge saw Indian Navy ships bringing key supplies under its Operation Samudra Setu II.

On May 12, Jaishankar and Kuwait FM Dr. Ahmed Nasser Mohammed AlSabah had spoken to each other during which the former thanked the latter for assistance.

EAM tweeted, "A warm call today with FM @anmas71 of Kuwait. Conveyed our appreciation for the maritime bridge with Kuwait that is enabling smooth oxygen flow."

A warm call today with FM @anmas71 of Kuwait. Conveyed our appreciation for the maritime bridge with Kuwait that is enabling smooth oxygen flow.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 12, 2021

On May 27, Indian Navy Ship INS Shardul reached Kochi with 270 metric tonnes (MT) of liquid medical oxygen from Kuwait and UAE including 11 International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) containers, two semi-trailers and 1200 oxygen cylinders. Kuwait sent India, 185 Metric Tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen in 7 ISO Tanks of 20 MT capacity and 3 semi-trailers of 25 MT capacity each, around 1000 oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators.

As part of solidarity for India, iconic Kuwait Towers were lit in Indian colors amid the COVID-19 crisis with a message in Hindi-- Kuwait stands with you. Last year India reached out to Kuwait and sent a rapid response team to deal with COVID crisis. 

Kuwait Towers in Indian colors to express solidarity with India

Indians form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait with over the presence of one million Indian community members. This adds an important people to people dimension to India-Kuwait ties.