France reaffirms defense support for Kuwait

12/11/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 12: French Ambassador to Kuwait Olivier Gauvin affirmed that Kuwait can rely on France as a trusted ally in critical moments, given the strong defense partnership between the two nations and the commitment of France to continue supporting Kuwait and strengthening their historic and exceptional ties. In a speech at the celebration of the 108th anniversary of the Nov 11, 1918 Armistice that ended the First World War, Gauvin indicated that this year’s commemoration coincided with the 35th anniversary of Operation ‘Daguet’—the French military contribution to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. Gauvin presided over the ceremony, which was organized by the French Defense Mission under the supervision of French Defense Attaché and Head of the French Military Mission in Kuwait Colonel Jérôme Bugeaud, with the participation of the military delegation as part of the ongoing French-Kuwaiti cooperation.

Attendees included Brigadier General Dr. Tariq Abdullah Mohammad from Kuwait National Guard (KNG) who represented KNG Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Hamad Al-Barjas, ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of Kuwaiti civil and military authorities, defense attachés, and members of the French expatriate community. Gauvin stated that the solidarity of his country with Kuwait is firm and long-standing. “Kuwait, like our other partners, knows that it can count on France—a balancing power and a trusted ally in critical moments. The reality in 1990 remains the same today,” he asserted.

He pointed out that since the early days of the regional conflict which started on Feb 28, 2026, France has been providing military support to Kuwait. He considers this a testament to the strength of the defense partnership, which is anchored on the defense agreement signed in 1992. He added that such a French political and military support was reaffirmed by the visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Kuwait on Oct 19 at the invitation of HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah. He recalled the participation of more than 18,000 French troops in Operation ‘Daguet’, along with the Kuwaiti and international coalition forces, to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion. He paid tribute to the sacrifices made by French service members during the liberation, honoring the 16 soldiers who lost their lives in the operation in 1990 and 1991.

He also reflected on the immense sacrifices made during the First World War and the significance of the ‘unknown soldier’ in the French national consciousness, emphasizing that this commemoration has a universal dimension, as it honors all service members who perished for the sake of France, including those who fell while serving the cause of peace in overseas operations. He honored the French service members who lost their lives in 2026 -- Major Arnaud Frion, Warrant Officer Florian Montorio, Sergeant Anicet Girardin, Chief Warrant Officer Thibaud Breteau and Corporal First Class Florian Gillet.

He asserted that their names now join those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and values of France. He emphasized that the nation honors their memory and bows in respect, underscoring the importance of passing this legacy to younger generations. The ceremony included the presentation of official decorations to civilian and military personnel. Gauvin awarded the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur) to French liaison officer and bilateral relations coordinator for KNG Gendarmerie Lieutenant Colonel Alexandre Pascal in recognition of his professional career and military commitment. In his concluding remarks, he stressed that peace is never a final guaranteed achievement, as maintaining it requires continuous preservation of national and international memory, as well as solidarity with the families of the fallen service member and the military veterans. He highlighted the symbolism of the ‘French Cornflower’ (Le Bleuet de France) as an expression of solidarity with the veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, reaffirming the significance of such commemorative gestures.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff