Kuwait's new emir sworns in before parliament

Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has taken an oath before the National Assembly to become the 17th emir of Kuwait, Caliber.Az writes, citing Al Arabiya.

The new emir, Meshal, had been one of Kuwait’s principal decision-makers since the elevation of his older half-brother, Sheikh Sabah, in 2006. Throughout his career, Meshal had served primarily in defence and security roles, including the development of its intelligence and security service into the Kuwait State Security Service and later as the deputy chief of the Kuwaiti National Guard.

Given Sheikh Mishal’s long experience and senior policy roles, he will likely continue to guide Kuwait in familiar directions. In foreign affairs, these will include an emphasis on preserving Gulf unity, especially relations with Saudi Arabia, promoting regional tension reduction, and maintaining strong ties to key international partners, principally the US.

It is also expected that Sheikh Mishal will seek to strengthen Kuwait’s relations with China. Unlike several of its Gulf Cooperation Council partners, however, Kuwait has remained steadfast in its support for Palestinian rights and has thus far rejected suggestions of normalization with Israel.

Domestically, Sheikh Meshal will likely continue the efforts launched by Sheikh Nawaf to overcome decades of tense relations between the monarchy and Kuwait’s powerful parliament. 

Sheikh Meshal, Kuwait’s 83-year-old crown prince and half-brother of the late emir, was named to replace Sheikh Nawaf immediately following news of his death on December 16.

Nawaf had been admitted to a hospital in November following an emergency health issue. On December 16, Nawaf died aged 86 after ruling the Gulf state for three years. His loss was felt across the Middle East, and he was widely respected for mediating conflict in the volatile region.

Authorities gave no cause of death but announced the start of a 40-day official mourning period and a three-day closure of government departments.

Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in September 2020 after the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, in the United States at the age of 91.

“The sheikh has only done good for the country. His legacy will be remembered fondly,” Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University. His era is notable even though it is the third shortest in Kuwaiti history,” told Al Jazeera.

“He has led the largest reconciliation in modern Kuwaiti history with a series of amnesties, release of prisoners and citizenships. He has also opened up to the opposition and opened the parliament again to all voices, and opened up to taking away from the government’s role voting for the speaker of the house, which was really crucial to the positionality of the people and the popular opinion.”

Kuwait has been ruled by a constitutional monarchy since gaining its independence from Britain in 1961.