The 16th U.S.-Kuwait Joint Military Commission concluded at the Pentagon following two days of discussions aimed at advancing mutual defense interests and strengthening regional security.
Co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Near East and Central Asia Michael P. DiMino IV and Kuwait’s Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Khaled al-Shriaan, the meeting took place from Aug. 19 to Aug. 20. The delegations included representatives from the U.S. Central Command, the Joint Staff, the State Department, and the Maryland National Guard.
During the dialogue, officials exchanged assessments regarding regional security challenges and explored opportunities for Kuwait to bolster its defense capabilities against shared threats. Discussions centered on improving interoperability, expanding cooperation regarding maritime security, and enhancing regional integrated air and missile defense architectures.
Both leaders emphasized that the proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems has fundamentally transformed warfare, highlighting the critical necessity for deeper integration between the two nations to mitigate such threats.
Kuwait remains committed to increasing investment in its own defense and the U.S. defense industrial base. This commitment is highlighted by a pending $1.98 billion acquisition of Anduril counter-small unmanned aircraft systems as part of a broader effort to expand foreign military sales. The delegations also discussed the America First Arms Transfer Strategy, which aims to accelerate the modernization of Kuwait’s armed forces by streamlining the foreign military sales process.
In a formal announcement, DiMino confirmed Kuwait’s acceptance into the State Partnership Program. Through this initiative, Kuwait will be paired with the Maryland National Guard, which was represented at the commission by Adjutant General Major General Janeen Birckhead.
