Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah attended at the headquarters of the Defense Ministry on Monday, an award ceremony for Director General of Kuwait’s Coast Guard, Commodore Sheikh Mubarak Ali Al-Sabah.
The Director General received the US Legion of Merit award, given by the President of the United States. Deputy Commander of US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper presented the award in presence of Kuwait Army Deputy Chief-of-Staff Air Marshal Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, US Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara, and a number of military and Embassy officials.
Sheikh Fahad said in a speech the award reflects the strong military relations between Kuwait and the United States, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.
He added that the medal expresses the US leadership’s appreciation for Commodore Sheikh Mubarak’s efforts in strengthening military cooperation between the two countries, wishing him success in performing his duties. Sasahara praised the Kuwaiti military’s keenness on enhancing cooperation with the US, and the mutual respect between US and Kuwait’s militaries.
The award was given to Commodore Sheikh Mubarak in recognition of his exceptional service as Commander of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 152, the largest international maritime partnership in the world. From February 2019 to October 2023, he served as the US Central Command’s Deputy Commander for Navy Affairs and as a representative of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior. His contributions included supporting over 30 bilateral and multilateral exercises and facilitating 55,000 operational hours for unmanned surface vessels and artificial intelligence initiatives.
Sheikh Mubarak’s efforts directly contributed to achieving US Central Command’s goal of creating the world’s first fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels by a partner nation. His leadership and personal initiatives played a key role in advancing regional maritime security and strengthening ties between the US Navy and its Gulf Arab allies.
