PM Modi awarded Kuwait's highest honour

Kuwait City: Kuwait awarded its highest honour, 'The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer', to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his efforts to strengthen the ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Modi received the honour from Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait City.

"I am honoured to be conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. I dedicate this honour to the people of India and to the strong friendship between India and Kuwait," Modi wrote in a post on X. 'The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer' is Kuwait's highest knighthood order.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to the award as "a testament to the long-standing India-Kuwait friendship" in a post on X. "PM Modi dedicated this honour to India-Kuwait ties, the Indian community in Kuwait, and to the 1.4 billion people of India," Jaiswal added.

The award was presented to Prime Minister Modi for his role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries, as reported by Kuwait's state news agency KUNA.

This marks the 20th international honour bestowed upon PM Modi by a foreign nation, according to officials. The order is typically awarded to Heads of State, foreign Sovereigns, and members of foreign royal families as a symbol of friendship, PTI reported.

Past recipients include foreign leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush. Modi arrived in Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit, which is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. Upon arrival, he received a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour at the Bayan Palace.

Previously, Modi has been honoured by other Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. In November, Guyana and Dominica awarded their highest honours to Prime Minister Modi for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for his significant contributions to the global community and efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with the two Caribbean nations.

Also in November, Nigeria bestowed its national award, *the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger*, on Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his statesmanship and his outstanding contribution to improving bilateral relations, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive this distinction.