Relationship dossier
Japan
Kuwait
Relationship assessment
Energy ties, economic cooperation, and Kuwait’s post-disaster assistance to Japan underpin friendly relations.
Japan toward Kuwait
+35Japan has provided development and technical assistance to Kuwait and maintains economic cooperation with the Kuwaiti government, including through a bilateral investment agreement.
Kuwait toward Japan
+40Kuwait donated crude oil to Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, providing direct assistance during Japan’s recovery. Kuwaiti energy supplies have also supported Japan’s energy relationship with the Gulf state.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship combines sustained energy and economic ties with concrete government cooperation, including Japanese assistance to Kuwait and Kuwait’s crude-oil donation after the 2011 disaster in Japan. These features support a substantially cooperative bilateral relationship, although the breadth of cooperation beyond these areas is less clear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Japan and Kuwait have maintained a cooperative relationship shaped by energy ties and economic cooperation. Japan has provided development and technical assistance, while Kuwait has been an important source of energy for Japan. Kuwait also donated crude oil to Japan following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. A bilateral investment agreement provides a framework for economic ties.
Key developments
Kuwait donated crude oil to Japan following the earthquake and tsunami.
Japan and Kuwait signed a bilateral investment agreement.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Japanese development and technical assistance are unclear.
- The extent of bilateral cooperation beyond energy, investment, and disaster assistance is uncertain.