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 Kuwait |  United States |
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Kuwait is a designated major non-NATO ally of the United States.
As of 2013, there were 5,115 international students of Kuwaiti origin studying in the United States, representing 0.6% of all foreigners pursuing higher education in America. [1]
The United States opened a consulate in Kuwait in October 1951, which was elevated to embassy status at the time of Kuwait's independence 10 years later. The United States supports Kuwait's sovereignty, security and independence, as well as its multilateral diplomatic efforts to build greater cooperation among the GCC countries.
Strategic cooperation between the United States and Kuwait increased in 1987 with the implementation of a maritime protection regime that ensured the freedom of navigation through the Persian Gulf for 11 Kuwaiti tankers that were reflagged with U.S. markings.
The U.S.-Kuwaiti strategic partnership intensified dramatically again after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The United States spearheaded United Nations Security Council demands that Iraq withdraw from Kuwait and its authorization of the use of force, if necessary, to remove Iraqi forces from the occupied country. The United States subsequently played a dominant role in the development of the multinational military Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm that liberated Kuwait. The U.S.-Kuwaiti relationship remained strong in the post-Gulf War period. Kuwait and the United States worked on a daily basis to monitor and enforce Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Since Kuwait's liberation, the United States has provided military and defense technical assistance to Kuwait from both foreign military sales (FMS) and commercial sources. The U.S. Office of Military Cooperation in Kuwait is attached to the American embassy and manages the FMS program. There are currently over 100 open FMS contracts between the U.S. military and the Kuwait Ministry of Defense totaling $8.1 billion. Principal U.S. military systems currently purchased by the Kuwait Defense Forces are Patriot Missile systems, F-18 Hornet fighters, the M1A2 main battle tank, AH-64D Apache helicopter, and a major recapitalization of Kuwait's Navy with U.S. boats.
Kuwaiti attitudes toward American people and products have been favorable since the Gulf War, with 63% of Kuwaitis viewing the U.S. favorably in 2003 – a view more positive than that of close U.S. NATO allies such as Italy, Germany, and France – declining slightly down to 46% in 2007. [2] In 1993, Kuwait publicly announced abandonment of the secondary and tertiary aspects of the Arab boycott of Israel (those aspects affecting U.S. firms).
Kuwait also is an important partner in the ongoing U.S.-led campaign against international terrorism, providing assistance in the military, diplomatic, and intelligence arenas and also supporting efforts to block financing of terrorist groups. In January 2005, Kuwait Security Services forces engaged in gun battles with local extremists, resulting in fatalities on both sides in the first such incident in Kuwait's history.
The Kuwaiti embassy is located in Washington, D.C. [3]
On 4 May 2022, US First Lady Dr Jill Biden attended the Kuwait-America Foundation gala dinner as guest of honour which was held at the Kuwait Embassy in the nation’s capital in support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) impactful work worldwide. [5]
The U.S. embassy is located in Kuwait City. [6]
The Kuwait Armed Forces are the military forces of the State of Kuwait. They consist of the Kuwait Air Force, the Kuwait Army, the Kuwait Navy & the Kuwait National Guard. The governing bodies are the Kuwait Ministry of Defense, the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, and the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate. The Emir of Kuwait is the commander-in-chief of all defense forces while the Crown Prince is the deputy commander.
James Franklin Jeffrey is an American diplomat who served most recently as the United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy to the International military intervention against ISIL.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah or Jaber III was Emir of Kuwait from 31 December 1977 until his death in 2006.
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was Emir of Kuwait from 2020 until his death in 2023.
Jordan has been a very close ally of the United States for decades, dating back to the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries in 1949. The country was named a major non-NATO ally of the U.S. in 1996.
The relations between Iraq and Kuwait are longstanding and complex, experiencing many changes through recent decades.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the tenth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 29 March 1921 until his death on 29 January 1950. He was the longest reigning ruler of Kuwait having reigned for a total 28 years and 305 days.
Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah was the Emir of Kuwait from 15 January 2006, succeeding Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, until abdicating nine days later on 24 January. Prior to that he had been Prime Minister of Kuwait from 1978 to 2006.
India–Kuwait relations are bilateral diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the State of Kuwait. The two countries share friendly ties. Kuwait houses a large expatriate Indian population and is the source for 10–12% of India's oil imports while India is among the largest trade partners of Kuwait.
Commodore Sheikh Mubarak Ali Yousuf Al Sabah the eldest son of Sheikh Ali Yousuf Al Sabah and Sheikha Awrad Jaber Al Sabah, the daughter of the former Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade of the Kuwait Army, commonly known as the 25th Commando, is one of Kuwait's various principal Commando brigades. The 25th Commando operates at the disposition of the respective commander who reports to the respective leadership of the Military of Kuwait; executing, participating, supporting, and carrying all conflicts in which the Military of Kuwait engaged since inception in 1960. The 25th Commando executes general operations in support of the Military of Kuwait.
Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was a member of the House of Sabah and one of the first Kuwaitis to attain the military rank of lieutenant general. He was one of the first Kuwaitis to be commissioned as an officer by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK, and the first Kuwaiti to receive an Amiri Decree for appointment as Chief of the General Staff. Mubarak initiated joint training of Kuwait Armed Forces and United States Armed Forces in 1977 and, the following year, was the first military officer to establish conscription.
The Battle of Al-Regeai or Battle of Atheriyat, acknowledged as the final significant military engagement in the early historical period of Kuwait, occurred on 28 January 1928. It transpired under the rule of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the 10th ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait. Marking a technological milestone, the battle featured the first utilisation of vehicles in Kuwaiti combat. The conflict was instigated by an Ikhwan raid against Kuwaiti farmers at Umm Al-Ruweisat, situated northwest of Al Jahra. Approximately five hundred Ikhwan horsemen launched the attack, leading to the occupation of the farms.
Kuwait and Iran have longstanding historical ties spanning hundreds of years, particularly in the pre-oil era. Relations were negatively influenced by the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s. Relations improved after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Iran–Qatar relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Qatar. Iran has an embassy in Doha while Qatar has an embassy in Tehran. Qatar and Iran have close ties.
The timeline of the Gulf War details the dates of the major events of the 1990–1991 war. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990 and ended with the Liberation of Kuwait by Coalition forces. Iraq subsequently agreed to the United Nations' demands on 28 February 1991. The ground war officially concluded with the signing of the armistice on 11 April 1991. However, the official end to Operation Desert Storm did not occur until sometime between 1996 - 1998. Major events in the aftermath include anti-Saddam Hussein uprisings in Iraq, massacres against the Kurds by the regime, Iraq formally recognizing the sovereignty of Kuwait in 1994, and eventually ending its cooperation with the United Nations Special Commission in 1998.
Qatar has an embassy in Kuwait City, and Kuwait has an embassy in Doha. Both countries are part of the Middle East region and share close cultural and historical ties.
Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is a member of the Kuwaiti royal family who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023. He previously served as ambassador of Kuwait to the United States of America from June 2001 until May 2022.
Sheikha Rima al-Sabah is a Lebanese-Kuwaiti former journalist, and a current UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
As a country with traditionally strong contacts in the Arab world, Germany enjoys a good relationship with Kuwait. Among the EU states, Germany is Kuwait's most important trading partner.
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.
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