Kuwait and El Salvador have taken significant steps to strengthen their bilateral relations during a recent high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On September 25, 2026, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and El Salvador’s Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco convened at the headquarters of Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the UN to review ongoing cooperation and explore new avenues for partnership.
The ministers discussed broadening collaboration in various sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, food security, renewable energy, and development. A notable outcome was the signing of a visa exemption agreement facilitating travel for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports between the two countries.
This meeting marked the first official bilateral engagement at the foreign minister level since Kuwait and El Salvador established diplomatic ties in December 1999, reflecting a renewed focus on enhancing their relationship. The Salvadoran Embassy described the talks as opening a new chapter and providing fresh momentum to over 26 years of diplomatic engagement.
El Salvador’s diplomatic presence in Kuwait has recently expanded with the November 2024 opening of its embassy, headed by Ambassador Juan Carlos Staben Boillat. This move underscores El Salvador’s interest in deepening relations not only with Kuwait but more broadly with the Gulf region.
The discussions also occurred amid efforts to convert longstanding diplomatic goodwill into more tangible economic and developmental cooperation. In line with those efforts, El Salvador and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed their first loan agreement, marking a milestone in economic partnership and laying a foundation for future collaboration.
El Salvador has notably improved its security environment, which, alongside ongoing development in its tourism sector, has contributed to a 37 percent rise in international tourist arrivals during the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year, according to the UN World Tourism Barometer. The Salvadoran Embassy highlighted these improvements as factors boosting confidence among visitors, investors, and international partners.
Both nations identified key sectors with growth potential, including coffee and agricultural products, renewable energy, education, trade, and investment. Kuwait views increased engagement with El Salvador as an opportunity to expand its economic footprint in Central America, while El Salvador positions itself as a gateway to the broader Latin American market.
The recent ministerial dialogue, the establishment of a resident Salvadoran embassy in Kuwait, and the initial loan agreement with KFAED collectively signal a commitment to deepening ties. Moving forward, both countries aim to translate diplomatic relations into practical cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships across development, commerce, tourism, and cultural exchanges.