Pakistan, Kuwait Sign 2026 Protocol to Expand Defence Cooperation
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan and Kuwait have signed a new defence protocol aimed at expanding military cooperation, building on a broader bilateral defence framework agreed in 2023 as the two countries seek closer institutional and security ties.
The “Protocol Agreement-2026” was signed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and a high-level Kuwaiti delegation led by Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The Kuwaiti delegation also included Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Khalid Darj Saad Al-Shriaan.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence, the protocol significantly enhances the military cooperation framework established under the Defence Cooperation Agreement-2023.
What Does the New Pakistan-Kuwait Agreement Cover?
Under the agreement, the Pakistan Armed Forces will provide assistance to their Kuwaiti counterparts across several areas.
These include military training, capacity building and border management, as well as other fields of defence cooperation agreed between the two governments.
The two sides also discussed bilateral defence relations, security cooperation and ways to further strengthen their military partnership.
Pakistan’s Defence Ministry said the agreement reflected longstanding trust and shared strategic interests between Islamabad and Kuwait City, adding that both countries wanted their defence relationship to contribute to regional security and stability.
Protocol Builds on 2023 Defence Pact
The latest protocol does not represent an entirely new defence relationship. Instead, it expands the framework created under the 2023 Defence Cooperation Agreement.
Kuwait formally ratified that agreement in July 2026, three years after it was originally signed.
The broader 2023 framework covers areas including military training and education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defence technology, research and exchanges of expertise. It also provides for a joint military committee to oversee implementation, including joint exercises, official visits and cooperative programmes.
The agreement is designed to remain in force for five years and renew automatically unless either country chooses to terminate it.
The 2026 protocol therefore appears to move the relationship further toward practical implementation by identifying areas in which Pakistan’s armed forces will directly assist Kuwait.
Kuwaiti Delegation Meets Field Marshal Asim Munir
The Kuwaiti defence delegation also held talks at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
According to Pakistan’s military, the talks focused on regional security, bilateral defence cooperation and matters of mutual interest.
Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional military ties and expand mutually beneficial defence collaboration.
The Kuwaiti delegation also praised the professionalism and operational capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces and their contribution to regional stability, according to the Pakistani military’s account of the meeting.
Why Pakistan-Kuwait Defence Ties Matter
Pakistan and Kuwait have maintained longstanding political, economic and defence relations, with military training forming an important element of their bilateral engagement.
The latest agreement comes as Gulf and Middle Eastern governments reassess security cooperation amid heightened regional tensions.
International reporting has also highlighted Pakistan’s growing diplomatic and security role in the Middle East, including its recent involvement in efforts to reduce tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the Pakistan-Kuwait Protocol Agreement-2026 should be distinguished from a collective-defence treaty.
The publicly announced provisions focus on bilateral military assistance, training, capacity building, border management and other agreed cooperation. Neither Pakistan’s official announcement nor current reporting says the protocol creates an automatic mutual-defence commitment requiring one country to enter a war if the other is attacked.
For Islamabad and Kuwait City, the agreement instead represents another step towards institutionalising a defence relationship that has developed over decades.
