Sec. Austin makes unscheduled stop in Kuwait to pay respects to late emir

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made an unscheduled stop in Kuwait on Sunday to offer the United States’ condolences over the death of the country’s emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, which was announced on Saturday.

Austin departed this weekend for a scheduled trip to Israel, Qatar and Bahrain. On Saturday, President Biden announced he would lead a presidential delegation to Kuwait to pay respects.

Pentagon Press Sec. Pat Ryder said Austin met Sunday with the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al Sabah and “expressed heartfelt condolences to Sheikh Nawaf’s family and the people of Kuwait on behalf of the Department of Defense.”

“[Austin] shared that President Biden asked him to lead the U.S. delegation to Kuwait to mourn with the Kuwaiti people and express appreciation for the strong legacy that Sheikh Nawaf leaves behind. He conveyed his desire to advance and deepen the defense partnership,” Ryder said in the statement.

Austin on Sunday posted photos on X, formerly Twitter, of his visit with officials in Kuwait and praised the late emir as a “valued partner” to the United States.

“His Highness Sheikh Nawaf was a valued partner and friend to the U.S. who demonstrated a lasting commitment to diplomacy aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. I am honored to be in Kuwait today to pay my respects and offer my condolences to the people of Kuwait and Sheikh Nawaf’s family,’ Austin wrote.

Austin’s trip to the region marks his second visit to Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel’s southern border on Oct. 7. He will be meeting with senior Israeli officials. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Brown Jr. will join Austin in Israel, marking the first visit to the Middle East since Brown took on the role, Ryder said last week.

The trip also comes after national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Israeli leaders last Thursday in Tel Aviv.