Kuwait buries late emir Sheikh Nawaf in funeral attended by new ruler

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, whose six-decade career in public service primarily focused on domestic issues, was buried on Sunday following a prayer service.
His successor, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, was seen shedding a tear at the prayer service attended by members of the ruling Al Sabah family and speaker of Kuwait’s parliament.
Sheikh Meshal had been Kuwait’s de facto ruler since late 2021, when a frail Sheikh Nawaf handed over most of his duties. Kuwait, which holds the world’s seventh-largest oil reserves, has maintained a foreign policy of close ties with its ally the U.S. and balanced its relationships with neighbours Saudi Arabia, Iran and former occupier Iraq.
As he formally takes the helm of the OPEC member from his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal is expected to preserve key Kuwaiti foreign policies including support for Gulf Arab unity, Western alliances and good ties to Riyadh – a priority relationship.