India and Kuwait marked a historic milestone in their bilateral relations during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first official visit to Kuwait on December 21-22, 2024. The visit culminated in the elevation of their ties to a “Strategic Partnership,” signifying deeper cooperation across trade, defence, energy, and cultural domains. Kuwait also honored PM Modi with its highest civilian award, ‘The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer,’ in recognition of his role in fostering bilateral ties.

Key Highlights of the Visit

1. Formalizing Strategic Partnership

PM Modi and Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah agreed to deepen collaboration through the establishment of new Joint Working Groups (JWGs) in trade, technology, education, and defence. The leaders reiterated their commitment to advancing people-to-people ties and sustaining high-level ministerial interactions.

2. Defence and Security Cooperation

The signing of an MoU in defence marked a pivotal step in enhancing bilateral ties. Both nations agreed to conduct joint military exercises, bolster maritime safety, and facilitate co-production of defence equipment. The leaders condemned terrorism in all forms and called for disrupting terror-financing networks and fostering cybersecurity collaboration.

3. Trade and Investment Opportunities

Kuwait lauded India’s efforts to create a conducive environment for foreign investments and expressed interest in Indian infrastructure, technology, and food security sectors. Discussions focused on expediting the Bilateral Investment Treaty and strengthening trade linkages by diversifying the export-import portfolio.

4. Energy Partnership

Recognizing the potential for growth, both sides agreed to expand their energy ties beyond the buyer-seller dynamic. Kuwait expressed interest in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program and committed to enhanced collaboration in oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors.

5. Cultural and Educational Exchanges

The renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme (2025-2029) and Executive Programme on Sports (2025-2028) aimed at fostering deeper cultural ties. Both countries explored avenues for educational cooperation, including digital libraries and EdTech platforms.

Major Agreements and Milestones

Defence MoU: Strengthens bilateral defence ties.

Cultural Exchange Programme: Facilitates collaborations in arts and literature until 2029.

Sports Executive Programme: Strengthens cooperation in sports till 2028.

Kuwait’s ISA Membership: Marks a commitment to solar energy collaboration.

Past and Present Linkages

The centuries-old ties between India and Kuwait have evolved from historical trade relationships to strategic economic and political cooperation. Kuwait’s recent membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and its interest in food parks align with India’s global climate and agricultural initiatives. This partnership reflects mutual benefits and supports regional stability, demonstrating a modern synergy between historical allies.

Future Outlook

This strengthened partnership, underpinned by a shared vision, aims to foster sustainable development and enhance regional security. Both leaders emphasized the need for UN reforms and global cooperation to tackle emerging challenges effectively.

Summary of the news

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, several explosive-laden drones, believed to be part of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, targeted residential high-rises in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. The attacks, which involved at least eight kamikaze drones, resulted in fires breaking out across multiple buildings, while the authorities scrambled to manage the aftermath. With images and video footage circulating online, the incident has drawn significant attention, with many observers comparing the scale of the strikes to the devastating 9/11 attacks. The incident is part of a broader series of aerial assaults, including multiple drone strikes on Russia’s territory since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

The Attack

• According to Russian authorities, the attack occurred in the morning between 7:40 and 9:20 a.m. local time, with the first reports of drones hitting the city surfacing around 8:00 a.m. 
• The city was struck by three waves of drone attacks, with six drones hitting residential buildings and one targeting an industrial facility. 
• Another drone was intercepted and shot down over a river. 
• These coordinated strikes, involving multiple drones, caused extensive damage to the targeted high-rise buildings, with video footage showing a drone directly crashing into the upper floors of a building, producing large fireballs upon impact.
• Videos shared by local news channels and eyewitnesses showed the moment of impact and its aftermath, depicting thick smoke billowing from the buildings, causing residents to flee their homes. 
• One of the most striking pieces of footage, which was verified by The Associated Press, showed a drone flying into the upper floors of a high-rise building, with the resulting explosion appearing to be reminiscent of the scale of destruction seen during the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. 
• This comparison gained traction on social media, further emphasizing the dramatic and violent nature of the strike.

Emergency Response and Civilian Impact

• In response to the attacks, local emergency services rushed to the scene. 
• The immediate priority was the evacuation of residents from the impacted buildings, though as of the latest reports, no fatalities have been confirmed. 
• The governor’s office of Tatarstan, led by Rustam Minnikhanov, acknowledged the attack and confirmed that arrangements were being made to provide temporary accommodation for displaced individuals. 
• Despite the extensive damage, no immediate casualties were reported, a fact that authorities and local residents are thankful for, although the psychological toll on those affected is undoubtedly significant.
• As a precautionary measure, Kazan’s airport was closed temporarily, with flight arrivals and departures halted. 
• Other airports in the region, including those in Izhevsk and Saratov, were also subject to temporary restrictions. 
• These measures underscore the serious disruption the attacks caused to the city’s daily operations.

Ukraine’s Role and Military Strategy

• Ukraine has yet to formally acknowledge responsibility for the attack on Kazan, adhering to its standard policy of not taking public credit for military actions against Russia. 
• However, the attack is seen as part of a larger strategic approach, wherein Ukraine has increasingly used UAVs for precision strikes against military and infrastructure targets deep within Russian territory. 
• Ukraine’s use of drones, including kamikaze-style UAVs, has grown more sophisticated over time, highlighting the changing dynamics of modern warfare, where drones offer a relatively low-cost, high-impact method of retaliation.
• This particular attack follows a deadly missile strike by Ukraine on the Russian city of Kursk on the previous day, which killed six people. 
• These incidents indicate that Ukraine is widening its offensive strategy, making use of both drones and missiles to target civilian infrastructure and military assets within Russia.
• Russian authorities have been on high alert, especially as drone attacks have reached Moscow and other regions in the past, though this marks one of the most significant and impactful strikes to date.

Russian Defense and Countermeasures

• In response to the escalation, Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted a number of Ukrainian drones targeting various locations across the country, including an interception over Tatarstan. 
• The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it had shot down one drone over Kazan, although Ukrainian officials suggest that many more drones were lost or jammed during the conflict. 
• Despite these defensive measures, the Ukrainian UAVs continue to reach their targets, suggesting vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defense systems, especially in urban areas.

Broader Implications

• The attack on Kazan is part of an ongoing conflict where both Russia and Ukraine are utilizing increasingly advanced technologies to disrupt each other’s infrastructure and weaken civilian morale. 
• These drone strikes are not only a tactical response but also serve to send a political message, with Ukraine attempting to demonstrate its ability to strike deep into Russian territory and challenge the country’s security apparatus.
• For Russia, the incident in Kazan highlights the vulnerabilities of its domestic security systems and the risk of widespread disruption in major urban centers. The widespread use of drones in the conflict also suggests that future warfare may rely increasingly on unmanned systems for both offensive and defensive purposes.