The passing of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is a tremendous loss, not only domestically for Kuwait, where he was seen as a man of peace, humility and forgiveness, but also regionally for the Gulf and Arab world.
The late Emir was an instrumental figure in furthering joint Gulf and Arab efforts since assuming the role of Crown Prince of Kuwait in 2006, spending 14 years at the forefront of Kuwait’s external political work and being present at various milestones of collective Gulf and Arab action, especially amid the upheavals that shook the region such as the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and the so-called Arab Spring with its repercussions on regional security and stability.
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is considered one of the seminal leaders of modern-day Kuwait, rising through the political ranks as Governor of Hawalli Governorate before going on to spearhead the critical Interior and Defence ministries, during major events in Kuwait’s history, most notably, the Iran-Iraq War, which cast its shadow on Kuwait’s domestic affairs, as the country suffered numerous terrorist attacks including a failed 1985 assassination attempt on Kuwait’s former Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and bombings targeting foreign embassies and leisure facilities, as well as the hijacking of Kuwait Airways aircraft.
Under Sheikh Nawaf’s leadership of security and defence, Kuwait managed to maintain stability and avoid getting embroiled in the conflict between Iraq and Iran.
Although his reign spanning just under three years was relatively brief, it was filled with changes that reinvigorated and restored Kuwait’s political landscape, which had been impacted by the Arab Spring’s ripple effects. Sheikh Nawaf instituted new governing practices based on transparency, accountability and anti-corruption, overseeing key political and legal reforms that brought discipline and adherence to the law back to the state.
He also issued several amnesty decrees and achieved national reconciliation, helping get Kuwaiti politics back on track after a period of inertia – positively reflected in recent parliamentary calm. This paved the way for less political deadlock and more focus on development.
On the international level, Sheikh Nawaf was an ever-present figure following his appointment as Crown Prince in 2006 right up until his passing in 2023.
He left an important mark on bolstering Kuwait’s foreign relations at the Gulf, Arab and global levels.
Furthermore, his foreign policy philosophy was anchored in four main principles, belief in the importance of joint Arab action, strengthening Gulf and Arab ties, advocating for Arab and Islamic causes internationally to amplify Kuwait’s global presence, and commitment to defusing crises and achieving peace and stability regionally and worldwide.
