Kuwaits Leader Sheikh Nawaf has dies at the age of 86. Sheikh Mishaal has been named his successor.

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Kuwait finds itself at a crossroads following the demise of its leader, Sheikh Nawaf, at the age of 86. The passing of a leader has been always a moment of reflection and transition for a nation, and Kuwait is no exception. As the nation mourns the loss of Sheikh Nawaf, attention turns to his successor, Sheikh Mishaal, who has been named to take on the mantle of leadership.

His death is unlikely to change Kuwait’s oil strategy. The country is one of the world’s biggest exporters of crude and a key member of OPEC, usually acting in lockstep with the cartel’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia.

With great sadness and sorrow, we — the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world — mourn the late His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord today," said Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Sabah, the minister of his emiri court, who read the brief statement.

Kuwait's deputy ruler and his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, had been the world's oldest crown prince. The state-run KUNA news agency said Sheikh Meshal, a longtime leader in the country's security services, had been named emir Saturday afternoon and now is one of the Gulf Arab countries' last octogenarian leaders.

In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to a hospital for an unspecified illness. In the time since, Kuwait had been waiting for news about his health. State-run news previously reported that he traveled to the United States for unspecified medical checks in March 2021.

Those from Sheikh Nawaf's lifetime, born before oil fully transformed Kuwait from a trading hub into a petrostate, have been fading away with age. That, as well as other Gulf Arab nations putting younger and more assertive rulers in power, has increasingly put more pressure on the Al Sabah to pass power onto the next generation.

In neighboring Saudi Arabia, King Salman, 87, is widely believed to have placed day-to-day rule of his nation in the hands of his 38-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sheikh Nawaf previously served as Kuwait's interior and defense minister. His political fortunes were never certain despite being part of the ruling Al Sabah family. As defense minister, Sheikh Nawaf oversaw the rapid collapse of his forces during Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of his country in August 1990. He faced widespread criticism for his decisions during the war.

A letter reportedly sent to the country's ruler at the time alleged that Sheikh Nawaf ordered tank crews not to fire on the approaching Iraqi forces. The reasoning behind the alleged order remains unclear. Iraq's battle-hardened forces, after years at war with Iran, easily overwhelmed the country.

A U.S.-led, multinational force later expelled the Iraqis from Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. The Al Sabah never published the findings of its investigations into the government's actions around the invasion.

U.S. President Joe Biden described Sheikh Nawaf as a “valued partner and true friend of the United States”, and pledged to “continue to strengthen the longstanding ties” between the countries.

The international community will be closely watching Kuwait's political developments, as the stability of the Gulf region has far-reaching implications. Kuwait's strategic position, coupled with its historical role as a mediator, means that the choices made by Sheikh Mishaal will not only impact the nation but also contribute to the broader dynamics of the Middle East.