KUWAIT’S HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY THROUGH THE LENS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

This article examines Kuwait’s humanitarian diplomacy through its cooperation with international organizations and distils implications for the further development of Kuwaiti–Ukrainian relations in this domain. The study employs structural–functional analysis, the case-study method, and synthesis. It maps the principal actors of Kuwait’s humanitarian diplomacy – the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Minis- try of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait Zakat House, the International Islamic Charity Organization, and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society – and profiles cases of Kuwait’s humanitarian cooperation with international organizations and with Ukraine. To our knowledge, this is among the first contributions in Ukrainian political-science scholar- ship to synthesize lessons from Kuwait’s humanitarian diplomacy that speak directly to Ukraine’s foreign-policy priorities: mobilizing larger volumes of humanitarian assis- tance and codifying successful image-building practices to help neutralize geopolitical threats. The analysis shows that Kuwait’s humanitarian diplomacy has evolved over more than fifty years and is deeply embedded in its foreign policy as a source of positive international image, reputational security, and direct security benefits. In multilateral settings, it is implemented primarily through UN agencies (OCHA, WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR) in coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Kuwait. While global in reach, Kuwait’s aid flows are concentrated in Arab countries. The assessment of Kuwaiti–Ukrainian cooperation indicates long-standing, mutually beneficial ties with clear scope for deepening; the article outlines concrete steps to unlock this untapped potential.