Ministry of Defense (Kuwait) explained

Agency Name:Ministry of Defence
Type:Ministerial Department
Motto:الله والوطن والامير God, Country and The Emir
Preceding1:Kuwait Army
Directorate of Public Security Force
Jurisdiction:Government of Kuwait
Headquarters:Kuwait City
Minister1 Name:Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah
Child1 Agency:Office of the Minister of Defence

The Kuwait Ministry of Defence (Arabic: وزارة الدفاع الكويتية) is one of the governmental bodies of Kuwait. Its minister in charge is a member of the Cabinet of Kuwait. The current Minister of Defense is Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah.[1] [2] [3]

Minister

On 1 July 1961, when the ministry was not of birth yet during Operation Vantage; the Kuwait Army was the de facto command leadership of the available armed forces since establishment and acted as official minister advising the Emir of Kuwait on course of action. The Kuwait Army redesignated in 1953 was founded 13 years before the enacting of the Kuwait ministry, mainly by Field Marshal Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah (youngest son of Mubarak Al-Sabah) in 1949.

NamePortraitRank TenureNote
Abdullah Mubarak Al-SabahGeneral Commander of Kuwait Army and the Directorate of Public Security Force (1942–1961) until the two split in 1953.
Founder and patron of Kuwait Army and Kuwait Air Force.

List of ministers of defense and deputy prime ministers (1962–present)

The ministry has been headed by the following people since its inception in 1962:

NamePortraitTitleTenureNote
1 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of DefenseMohammed Al-Ahmad Kuwait Naval Base is named after him.
2 Saad Abdullah Al-Salem Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense 14th Ruler and 4th Emir of Kuwait (2006)
Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences which is in charge of training personnel of the Kuwait Police is named after him[4]
3 Salem Sabah Al-Salem Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
4 Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
5 Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ali Al-Sabah Military College which is in charge of training personnel of the Kuwait Armed Forces excluding the Kuwait Police is named after him.
6 Ahmad Al-Homoud Al-Sabah Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
7 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
8 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Prime Minister of Kuwait (2011–2019)
9 Ahmad Al Homoud Al Sabah Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
10 Ahmad Al Khalid Al Sabah[5] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (ret) Lieutenant General and Chief of the General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces (2009–2012)
11 Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah[6] [7] [8] [9] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense (ret) Lieutenant General and Chief of the General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces (2012-2013)
12 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
13 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
14 Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah[10] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
15 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense[11]
16 Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-SabahMinister of Defense (Acting)[12]
17 Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
18Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-SabahMinister of Defense5 October 2022–18 June 2023
19Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense18 June 2023–17 January 2024
20Fahad Yusuf Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense17 January 2024-Present

General functions

The major function of the ministry is to implement the government's defence policy and to govern all branches of the Kuwait Armed Forces.[13] It is also responsible for the production, transfer, use, storage, and coordination of mines; and for mine clearance.[13]

The ministry publishes a monthly magazine called Homat Al Watan.[14]

Notes and References

  1. News: Amiri Decree for appointing new interior, defense ministers. 9 March 2022. Kuwait News Agency. 9 March 2022.
  2. News: 2022-12-19 . Kuwait appoints interior minister to caretaker defence post . en . Reuters . 2022-12-20.
  3. Web site: KUNA : His Highness PM: new gov't to conduct reforms towards prosperity for "our beloved nation" - Government - 17/01/2024 . 2024-01-28 . www.kuna.net.kw.
  4. http://www.moi.gov.kw/academy/ Official Website Sector of Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences, Kuwait Ministry of Interior, (in Arabic)
  5. News: Kuwait announces new cabinet. 16 October 2013. Gulf News. 14 February 2012. Habib Toumi.
  6. Web site: Decree Number 18 for the Year 2012 to Appoint a Cabinet . https://web.archive.org/web/20120116082539/http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/government/decreeCabinetFormation.jsp . dead . 16 January 2012 . The Diwan . 16 October 2013 .
  7. Web site: Seven Al-Sabah family members in new Kuwait cabinet. Middle East Online. 16 October 2013. 4 August 2013.
  8. Web site: 4 August 2013 - Decree number 212 for year 2013 of the formation of the Cabinet . https://web.archive.org/web/20120116082539/http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/government/decreeCabinetFormation.jsp#04_August_2013_-_Decree_number_212_for_year_2013_of_the_formation_of_the_Cabinet . dead . 16 January 2012 . Kuwaiti Government . 9 September 2013 .
  9. News: Kuwait's new cabinet . 9 September 2013 . Global Post . 4 August 2013 . AFP . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130804162903/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130804/kuwaits-new-cabinet . 4 August 2013 .
  10. News: Profiles of new cabinet ministers in Kuwait. 17 December 2019. Kuwait News Agency. 17 December 2019.
  11. Web site: Kuwait: Sheikh Hamad Al-Jaber, new Defense Minister. 17 December 2020.
  12. News: Amiri Decree issued accepting resignations of Defense, Interior ministers. 17 February 2022. Kuwait News Agency. 17 February 2022.
  13. Web site: Ministry of Defense (Kuwait). Epicos. 12 October 2013.
  14. Web site: Kuwait. Press Reference. 10 September 2014.