Marco Rubio reaffirms US support for Kuwait after deadly airport attack

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to Kuwaits security and condemned what the United States described as Iranian attacks on Kuwait during talks with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber AlAhmad Al Sabah in WashingtonThe meeting at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department came a day after an attack on Kuwait International Airport killed at least one person an Indian national and injured several others according to statements from the governments of India and the United StatesAccording to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott Rubio reiterated the commitment of the United States to Kuwaits security to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of HormuzThe talks underscored Washingtons continuing focus on Gulf security as tensions remain high across West Asia following months of conflict involving Iran Israel and the United StatesThe State Department said Rubio also condemned Irans outrageous and unacceptable attacks targeting Kuwait International Airport and other parts of the country and expressed condolences for those killed and injured in that attackWe stand with the Kuwaiti people during this difficult time the statement addedThe reference to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz highlighted one of the most sensitive issues in the region The narrow waterway remains a critical route for global energy supplies and international shippingA day earlier India condemned the attack on Kuwait International Airport after confirming that an Indian citizen was among those killedWe condemn the attack on the Kuwait International Airport today in which an Indian national has died and several of our nationals are injured Indias Ministry of External Affairs said in a statementNew Delhi reiterated its longstanding position that civilians and civilian infrastructure should not be targeted during armed conflictSince the onset of the conflict in West Asia we have strongly urged that the civilian population and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted We again call upon parties to cease such attacks the ministry saidIndia also said its embassy was assisting those affected by the attackOur Embassy is extending all possible assistance to those injured We remain in close contact with local authorities for the welfare of Indian nationals the statement saidThe US government meanwhile advised Americans in Kuwait to exercise caution The State Departments TravelGov account said it was monitoring the situation following recent drone and missile attacks on Kuwait International Airport and urged travellers to follow instructions from local authorities and airport officialsThe attack has drawn particular attention in India because Kuwait hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate communities in the Gulf Nearly one million Indians live and work in the country making them the largest foreign communityKuwait has long been an important partner for India in energy trade and peopletopeople ties The Gulf nation is also home to a large number of Indian professionals healthcare workers engineers and skilled labourers whose welfare remains a priority for New Delhi during periods of regional instabilityThe meeting between Rubio and Sheikh Jarrah comes as the United States continues diplomatic engagement with Gulf partners amid efforts to contain the wider fallout from the conflict in West Asia The Strait of Hormuz remains central to those discussions because of its importance to global oil markets and energy security including for major importers such as India