US President Trump awards Kuwait's Amir 'prestigious' honour, White House says

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donald trump, kuwait amir sheikh sabah, white house, US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander
US President Donald Trump (R) welcomes Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, US, September 7, 2017.

Washington, United States - This is the first time since 1991 the US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander has been bestowed on someone.

By Reuters

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Published: Fri 18 Sep 2020, 10:45 PM

Last updated: Sat 19 Sep 2020, 1:11 AM

US President Donald Trump awarded the US Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, to the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the White House said in a statement on Friday, adding that it was the first time the honour has been given since 1991.
The 91-year-old Amir arrived in the United States in July to complete medical treatment, the Kuwaiti state news agency said at the time, adding that he was in stable condition after having undergone successful surgery in July.
The Amir's eldest son, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, accepted the award on behalf of his father at a private ceremony with Trump on Friday.
The White House praised the Amir as an "unwavering friend and partner to the United States" who gave "indispensable support to the United States throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Defeat-ISIS campaign."
Operation Iraqi Freedom refers to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq to oust former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein; Operation Enduring Freedom to the 2001 US-led military operation that drove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan; and the Defeat-Daesh campaign to the coalition effort to end the Daesh militant group's control of territory in Syria and Iraq.
The White House described the award given to the Kuwaiti Amir on Friday as a rare, prestigious decoration that can only be bestowed by the president, typically to foreign heads of state or government.
On Monday, Kuwait's prime minister told the Kuwaiti cabinet of the improvement of the Amir's health.


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