ANKARA

Turkey's foreign minister arrived in Kuwait on Thursday to offer condolences over the death of the Gulf state’s emir.

"In #Kuwait to convey our condolences on behalf of [Turkish] President @RTErdogan and the Turkish nation," Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote on Twitter.

On Tuesday, Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who has ruled the oil-rich state since 2006, died at the age of 91. Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was named the new Kuwaiti emir to succeed the late ruler.

Cavusoglu also visited the new emir and offered condolences to the al-Sabah family.

“We offered the condolences of [Turkish] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and our nation to the new Emir Sheikh Nawaf. We extend our condolences to the people of Kuwait; our friends, brothers, and sisters,” Cavusoglu said in a tweet.

In a statement, Erdogan had said he received the news of the emir's demise with "great sadness".

"On behalf of the Turkish nation, I convey my sincere condolences to the friendly and brotherly people of Kuwait."/aa