Kuwait Policy Brief
The Foreign Policy in Kuwait is mainly governed by the nation’s belief in equality, non-interference and mutual respect in internal affairs. It is known as a strong activist for handling international disputes in a way that is peaceful. It complies with the principles of international laws and treaties. Kuwait is a strong believer in upholding its sovereignty and independence as a nation plus its wealth. It uses the policy of quiet diplomacy, transparency and clarity to accord mutual respect to sovereign nations that are interested in relating with them economically, socially and politically (Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1). United States is among the nations that has shown much interest in Kuwait despite the physical distance between them. The influence of US in Kuwait has been felt since October 1951 when it showed strategic interests such as competing against the Soviet Union. Over the years, the US continued to intervene in Kuwait through diplomatic overtures and economic reasons.
The US has been supporting the sovereignty, independence and security of Kuwait. The aim has been to develop stronger multilateral diplomatic relationship that would make it cooperate more with the GCC nations (Katzman 13). By the year 1987, the strategic cooperation between these two nations increased after the maritime regime for protection was implemented. This gave US markings, a chance that enabled it to freely navigate the Persian Gulf. The partnership continued to intensify between US and Kuwait after Iraq invaded Kuwait. The US decided to take charge and spearhead Iraq withdrawal from Kuwait. It had to use pressure to remove the Iraq forces that had occupied the nation. Subsequently, the US dominated its role by developing multinational military Operations to act as a shield that would liberate Kuwait. This strengthened the relationship between these two nations because they acted in quiet diplomacy, transparency and clarity to accord mutual respect. The two nations decided to work daily together with the aim of monitoring and forcing Iraq to comply with the UN Security Council (PBS 1).
However, despite the fact that Kuwait saw US as an important factor to secure the nation plus the Persian Gulf area, it also needed US operations and strategy to overpower Iraq and remove them out of the nation. After the US expulsion of Iraqi people who resided in Kuwait in the year 1991, the government of Kuwait decided to develop a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) (Katzman 13). This enabled the US to retain and maintain its forces within the nation enabling it to project its power in the area. It was also strategic because the plan enabled the US to combat the Islamic States that were a threat to its development and security.
The foreign policy of Kuwait has enabled it to become a crucial partner with the US especially in the campaign to fight international terrorism. It is offering its assistance in diplomatic, intelligence and military areas while at the same time using its technologies to block the processes that the terrorists used to finance their projects. A good example is the year 2005 when Kuwait Security Services were seen engaging in battles to fight the local extremists an act that resulted on several deaths. Through the help of US in provision of defense technological assistance and military from commercial sources and Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Kuwait has managed to secure its territory (Katzman 9). The American embassy in Kuwait is controlling and managing the FMS program.
Currently, the nation has more than a hundred FMS compared to the US military. However, in order to take full control of the program, the US military system decided to purchase the Kuwait Ministry of Defense. The strategy was to live out Kuwait in the fight against Iran. Currently, Kuwait does not take part in Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Syria or Iraq. The government of Kuwait is fully loyal to the US because it has not been supporting Syria or any rebels. It has rather focused its attention on the international conferences with the aim of pledging for humanitarian aid for the victims in the Syrian war.
Kuwait and the US have also been associated economically. Since the year 2003, the attitude of Kuwait toward America and their products is better. The US import about 200, 000 barrels of crude oil daily from Kuwait (Katzman 3). This number is slightly lower than what was experienced in the year 2012 and 2014 and this can be attributed to the Syrian issue. It is therefore recommended that for the two nations to continue strengthening their bonds, it is proper for their citizens and the government to act diplomatically with clarity and transparency which is the policy that they signed when they began their relationship. On the other hand, Kuwait market is important to US economy since it carries out major exports in the nation. In the year 2015, the US exported products worth about $2.5 billion majoring mainly on industrial equipment, foodstuffs and automobiles.
However, the US and Kuwait differ in regards to supporting the Islamist rebels. They have asked the wealthy Kuwaitis to put a stop to the habit of raising funds to the Syrian rebels as this may not only destroy their relationship, but is also against the foreign policy. It is therefore important for this issue to be solved between these two nat
Works Cited
Katzman, Kenneth. “Kuwait: Governance, Security, and US Policy.” CRS Report 1.2(2016): 1-24. Print.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Relations of the State of Kuwait. Retrieved from http://www.mofa.gov.kw/en/embassies/Canada/About-Kuwait/Pages/Foreign-Policy.aspx
PBS. Global Connections. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/uspolicy/