Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, July 24, 2023. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister said Saturday that Beirut has no intention of intervening in Kuwait's internal Affairs, after comments made by caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam — in which he called for Kuwaiti aid to rebuild the port's grain silos — prompted backlash from the Gulf state's minister of foreign affairs.
Lebanon's caretaker economy minister had mentioned a Kuwaiti project to rebuild Beirut port's silos but he said Saturday his remarks were misinterpreted.
In a statement by his office, Mikati said that Lebanon "respects the principle of not intervening in the internal matters of all countries, particularly if it is related to the brotherly country of Kuwait, whose decision-making process relies on constitutional and legal restraints that reflect the culture of a great civilization, which is solid in Kuwait's politics."
Kuwait's top diplomat said Saturday he was "astonished" by Salam's remarks, which "contradict the simplest political customs and reflect a lack of understanding of decision-making in Kuwait, which is based on the constitution and institutions — including for humanitarian donations and loans."
"Kuwait categorically refuses to allow anyone to interfere in its decisions and internal affairs," said Sheikh Salem, calling on the Lebanese minister to withdraw his remarks.
Salam told L'Orient-Le Jour Saturday that he had no intention of attacking Kuwait and believed that his remarks were "misinterpreted."
He explained that during a speech on the eve of the blast commemoration, he used the expression "with a stroke of a pen," in reference to a Kuwaiti promise to rebuild the silos, which was misinterpreted as "a mark of defiance."
"It's a popular expression in Lebanon that means something can be done quickly," he added. "I didn't mean at all that we were going to impose anything on Kuwait."
Before its response to Salam's remarks Saturday, Kuwait called on its citizens in Lebanon to remain vigilant and avoid "areas of security unrest," but did not ask them to leave the country.
This followed Saudi Arabia's call on Friday for its citizens to leave Lebanon quickly and to avoid areas of armed conflict.
These instructions came after deadly fighting between rival Palestinian factions in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, which began on July 29. A precarious calm has prevailed since Thursday.
Relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states have been tense in recent years, due to the growing influence of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah on the political scene. In Oct. 2021, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies suspended diplomatic relations with Beirut, before restoring them in April 2022.