USARCENT welcomed the official party to strengthen the bonds with their Kuwaiti partners. Tareq Albanai, the Kuwait deputy prime minister and minister of Kuwait Foreign Affairs, Sarah Al Deyyain, the director of Kuwait International Relations and other distinguished visitors toured a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Patton Army Airfield, a patriot missile system, and the Army prepositioned stock warehouse to get a better understanding of the military operations here.
"We really appreciate the opportunity to work with the Kuwaitis here," said Maj. Gen. William Hickman, the USARCENT deputy commanding general-operations.
USARCENT leaders emphasized the importance of the partnership between the U.S. and the Kuwaiti military and the plans to continue that relationship in the future.
"It's very important to maintain relationships within our militaries and our countries as a whole," said Amira Al Dashti, the first secretary of America affairs, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "This is the first time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been here, but it won't be the last."
Al Deyyain's intent is to maintain a positive relationship and to build a partnership with USARCENT and Area Support Group-Kuwait, she said.
"The goal is not to have an American base or a Kuwaiti base, but to have a combined base," said Col. Jeff Stewart, the commander of ASG-Kuwait
The officials were in awe of the capabilities the U.S. and Kuwaiti forces have at Camp Arifjan, said Sarah al Sabah, a political researcher at the undersecretary's office in the Ministry of Information.
"Getting up on the tank was fun," she said. "The whole tour has been a great experience."
The official visit was concluded with a presentation of awards of appreciation between the official parties.
"It is important for our ministries to continue to build relationships with the U.S.," Al Dashti said. "We will definitely offer our help in any way we can and we will be back."
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