Relationship dossier
Turkey
Kuwait
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation in defense and regional diplomacy
Turkey toward Kuwait
+35Turkey has supported Kuwait during regional disputes, including the 2017 Gulf crisis, and has developed bilateral defense cooperation with the Kuwaiti government.
Kuwait toward Turkey
+35Kuwait has pursued defense procurement from Turkey and participates in bilateral cooperation frameworks, reflecting practical government engagement with Ankara.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship combines a strategic cooperation framework with defense ties and practical support during regional crises. These elements suggest a cooperative structure, although the breadth and continuity of joint programs are not 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
Turkey and Kuwait have maintained cooperative government ties, including defense cooperation and a strategic cooperation framework. Turkey supported Kuwait during the 2017 Gulf crisis, while Kuwait has pursued defense procurement from Turkey. These actions indicate practical cooperation, though the scope and continuity of bilateral programs are unclear.
Key developments
Turkey and Kuwait established a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council to broaden bilateral coordination.
Turkey sent supplies to Kuwait during the 2017 Gulf crisis, when regional restrictions disrupted access to goods.
Kuwait agreed to purchase Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aircraft.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral defense cooperation are unclear.
- The breadth of current joint programs beyond defense and crisis-related assistance is uncertain.