Dubai - At age 83, Sheikh Nawaf is not expected to deviate from the diplomatic path charted by his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
Published: Wed 30 Sep 2020, 11:00 PM
Updated: Thu 1 Oct 2020, 2:17 AM
His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah was sworn in before parliament on Wednesday as the Emir of Kuwait, propelled to power by the death of his half-brother after a long career in the security services.
At age 83, Sheikh Nawaf is not expected to deviate from the diplomatic path charted by his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. But his accession touched off speculation about who will become the next crown prince in the country known for its lively elected parliament.
The late Sheikh Sabah, 91, made his final journey to Kuwait later on Wednesday, his remains flying back to Kuwait City from Rochester, Minnesota, home of the flagship campus of the Mayo Clinic where he had been receiving medical treatment after surgery.
State television broadcast live as the late Emir's body, draped in a Kuwaiti flag, arrived at the airport. A host of Kuwaiti officials and close relatives carried the body aloft into an ambulance.
Sheikh Nawaf took office as the new Ruler of Kuwait in the parliament building before rows of applauding lawmakers, clad in traditional white robes and surgical masks because of the pandemic. In a low voice, he offered tribute to his late half-brother and promised to "preserve the security of Kuwait".
"Kuwait throughout its history has seen serious and tough challenges, which we have succeeded in overcoming through cooperating together," said Sheikh Nawaf, reading from prepared remarks.
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