The Basic Tenants That Shape Kuwaits Foreign Policy - Research Paper Example

The basic tenants that shape Kuwait’s foreign policy With only around 1900000 population and 6880 sq. miles of territory, Kuwait falls under the small state definition.1 Even though a small state, Kuwait is one of the prominent countries in the Middle East. As in the case of many other Middle Eastern countries, Islamic administration or autocracy prevails in Kuwait. Because of strategic importance, Kuwait’s foreign policies are often watched with curiosity by the external political observers because if its strategic location in the middle east2. Even though a well-developed country economically, military power of Kuwait is negligible compared to that in other neighboring countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc. According to Robert Rothstein, Kuwait’s domestic resources are unable to provide necessary security to the people of Kuwait.3 Kuwait was interested in maximizing their independence and freedom.4 For that, it would be impossible for Kuwait to survive as a neutral country. It should be noted that America and its allies saved Kuwait from the invasion of Saddam recently. Kuwait’s foreign policy has been developed on different perspectives. Oil, Islamic Fundamentalism, Arab Nationalism, Protection from its neighbors such as Iraq and Iran are some of the basic tenants that shape Kuwait’s foreign policy. This paper briefly analyses these four basic tenants that shape Kuwait’s foreign policy It is estimated that Kuwait possesses around 8.6–9.7% of the world’s oil reserves at present.5 Oil revenues account for more than 75% of the governmental income in Kuwait. Moreover, oil constitutes almost 90% of Kuwait’s export earnings. From the above statistics, it is evident that oil revenues play a major role in the development of Kuwait. As in the case of many other Middle Eastern countries, oil has the ability to shape the politics in Kuwait. It should be noted that majority of the foreign countries, irrespective of developed or developing, are facing severe energy crisis at present. At the same time, Kuwait has abundant oil resources. Naturally, the eyes of the foreigners would definitely focus more on Kuwait even though Kuwait is only a small country. The political, social and economic developments in Kuwait will be watched curiously by the foreigners. It would be easy for the western countries to interfere in Kuwaiti politics since Kuwait is facing many threats from its neighboring countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Westerners are providing protection to Kuwaitis while taking oil as the fees or payment for that protection. In short, oil plays an important role in Kuwaiti politics and it has the ability to shape the foreign policies of Kuwait. Oil export in Kuwait was started in 1946. Since then the oil revenues started to grow rapidly. In 1952 and 1953, oil revenues have been doubled. Britain has made serious claims on Kuwait’s oil revenue since they were giving protection to Kuwaitis earlier.6 According to Tetreault, (1991), security as well and autonomy are extremely important for the Kuwaiti rules while they shape Kuwait’s foreign policies.7 Kuwaiti leaders want to protect their interests not only from the threats of external groups, but also from that of the internal social groups. In the search for survival small states often forced to succumb to the pressure of the great powers8. Turkey is another country which raised threats against Kuwait during the early part of its history. Because of the strategic location of Kuwait, Turks were interested in Kuwait. They were interested in gaining control over the attractive Kuwaiti trade.9 As a result of that, Kuwaiti leaders forced to surrender a portion its autonomy to westerners like Britain deliberately to avoid larger losses. It should be noted that Kuwait was a colony of Britain earlier. Moreover, Britain was helping Kuwait in oil production, purification and transportation. Kuwait had no indigenously developed technologies to drill out oil. Kuwaitis rely on experts to produce, refine and market their oil.10 They sought help from western countries for the production and purification of oil. Westerners on the other hand, utilized this opportunity very well. Countries such as Britain often put forward stakes in Kuwaiti oil revenue because of the above circumstances. However, Kuwaitis were not ready to accept these claims. As a result of that Britain’s relationship with Kuwait has started to spoil in the 50s and 60s. Along with the growth of oil revenues, Kuwait starred to face more threats from neighboring countries such as Iraq and Iran. Iraq started to argue that Kuwait was once part of their territory and hence they have stakes in Kuwaiti oil resources. In 1961, Iraq attacked Kuwait based on this stake.11 Kuwait was forced to seek help again from Britain to escape from the attacks of Iraq. Britain on the other hand was searching for an opportunity to re-enter Kuwaiti soil. The entry of British troops in Kuwait helped the country to avoid the threats from Iraq. As in the case of other Middle Eastern countries, Arab League has a significant role in shaping Kuwait’s foreign policies. Arab countries are against the interference of westerners in Middle Eastern politics. The major reason for the dislike towards westerners in the Arab world is the unconditional support given to the Israel all political matters by the Western world. Arab countries including Kuwait, believe that westerners have some hidden agenda in the Middle Eastern politics. They know very well that westerners are looting the resources of Arab countries. Therefore, the entry of Western forces in any of the Middle Eastern countries is indigestible to the Arab League. Arab League asked Kuwait to expel British forces from Kuwaiti soil so that they can send forces for the protection of Kuwait. Because of the instructions from Arab League, Kuwait asked British troops to withdraw from their soil. However, the support extended by the Arab League was insufficient to overcome the threats from Iraq. The withdrawal of British forces has encouraged Iraq once again and they started to raise the threat again, despite of the presence of Arab league forces in Kuwait. Because of the increased threat from Iraq, Kuwait forced to sign a 10-year joint defence agreement with the United States in 1991.12 During Iran Iraq war, the Iraq-Kuwaiti relations started to improve.13 It should be noted that Kuwait has supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war. They thought that their support to Iraq would please Saddam and he may not think about attacking Kuwait again. However, to the utmost surprise of Kuwaitis, on August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Initially, Kuwait believed that the threats from Iraq were not much realistic. They failed to estimate the real intentions of Saddam. The reason cited by Iraq for the justification of this invasion was the over production of oil by Kuwait and thereby causing economic problems to Iraq.14 Iraq believed that Kuwait’s excess oil production was intended to decrease oil price in the global market and thereby cause economic problems to Iraq.15 These reasons were mere excuses and Kuwaitis were in deep trouble during the early parts of 1990. On one side, they received threats from Iran and from the other side the country was facing serious threat from Iraq. In the 80’s Iran emerged as the major threat to Kuwait. Iran started to provide helps to Kuwaiti dissidents. In the Iran Iraqi war, Kuwait has taken a pro-Iraq policy which made Iran to consider attacking Kuwait also during this war. In 1984, Kuwaiti vessels were attacked by Iran causing some casualties.16 Moreover, Saudi was not at all trustable for Kuwaitis. In 1928 January, Ikhwanis raided Kuwait and looted camels and sheep. Kuwaitis believe that an invisible hand of Saudi Arabia worked behind the invasion of Kuwait by Wahaabi Ikhwan in 1928. Moreover, Kuwait’s relations with Saudi Arabia have been spoiled after its independence. Both the countries had different perspectives and approaches to gulf security.17 Kuwait was interested in taking a neutral stand on Middle East affairs. However, such a stand was indigestible to Saudi Arabia. Saudi realized that a neutral stand by Kuwait would never help them to interfere in the internal matters of Kuwait. Saudi believed that being a smaller country in the Middle East and a close neighbor, Kuwait should obey their commands and safeguard their interests. Moreover, the 1981 oil surplus caused by Saudi’s oil policies have caused many problems to the small oil producing countries including Kuwait.18 Kuwait believed that Saudi is deliberately trying to spoil Kuwait’s economic growth. It should be noted that even an oil rich country may not develop properly if it fails to exploit its oil reserves properly.19 Saudi’s tactics caused huge problems to Kuwait in exploiting its oil resources. In short, the strained relations with Britain and the increased threats from the neighbors forced Kuwait to seek help from United States even though the Arab League was against this move. The growing threats from Iraq and Iran were another reason for Kuwait’s decision to seek help from America. Saddam’s repeated efforts to invade Kuwait forced Kuwait to sign a 10 year defense agreement with America in 1991. As per this agreement, America got the permission to position its military equipment in Kuwait and to conduct joint military exercises with Kuwaiti forces. Kuwait has paid $13.5 billion to the US for saving them from the Iraqi invasion.20 Even though Kuwait has not provided any troops, the state has extended all kinds of support to America in all gulf wars.21 At present America is the strongest ally of Kuwait. Kuwait has no belief in its neighbors and they believe that America is better than its neighbors such as Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Excellence in diplomacy is helping Kuwait to keep good relations with America and other western countries.22 Kuwait’s relations with its neighbors have undergone strong fluctuations in recent times which helped westerners and America to cement its presence in Kuwait.23 In fact Kuwait was America’s major strategic partner in all three Gulf wars.24 In search of survival, sometimes small states forced to sacrifice their neutrality up to certain extent.25 It is often said that Kuwait has sacrificed its freedom to America. However, this argument seems to be illogical since none of the neighboring countries, the Arab councils or states have failed to give any support to Kuwait in crisis situations26 As in the case of many other Middle Eastern countries, Islamic fundamentalism is visible in Kuwait also. The influence of Islamic fundamentalism can be observed in Kuwait’s foreign policies also. After independence, Kuwait has shaped its foreign policy on three major pillars; 1) political and military security, 2) Arab ideologies and Islamic values and 3) the mission to share nation’s wealth with poor Muslim countries.27 After Saudi Arabia, perhaps Kuwait is the major Middle Eastern country in which the elements of Islamic fundamentalism are visible. It should be noted that democracy is still a distant dream in Kuwait even though Kuwait has sound relationships with America and other democratic countries in the western world. Britain has advised Kuwaiti leaders very much for granting permission to the Kuwaitis for entering politics and to establish a democratic administration in Kuwait. However, Kuwaiti leaders have not given any importance to such advices.28 Like many of the other Middle Eastern countries, Kuwait also believes that democracy is not suitable to an Islamic country like Kuwait. Kuwaitis believe that in a democratic setup, people get more freedom and liberties and they may misuse it for personal gains. Moreover, they argue that democracy is an enemy of Islam since religion has limited roles in a democratic administration. Arab nationalism is evident in all foreign policies framed by the Kuwaiti administration. In fact, it is clearly marked in Kuwait’s constitution.29 None of the Kuwait’s foreign policies does any harm to Arab civilization, the language and literature of the Arabs. As in the case of other Arab countries, the feeling of nationalism is inherited in the veins of Kuwaitis. During the second Gulf war, Kuwaiti nationalism was better formed and realized than Iraqi nationalism.30 The feeling of nationalism is more among Kuwaitis than among any other people in the Middle Eastern countries. Moreover, nationalism is more important for Kuwaitis than Arab nationalism. In other words, Kuwaitis give first priority to their own interests and then only they consider any respect to the interests of other communities in the Arab world. The waves of nationalism can be seen in the foreign policies of Kuwait. It should be noted that Iraq is a country in which different communities of Islam exists whereas in Kuwait, Sunnis dominate all other Islamic communities. As a result of that Kuwaiti government is not much interested in protecting the interests of minority communities. For example, at the time of Iran–Iraq war, Kuwaiti government started to demote or remove Shi’a officials from important military and police posts because of the fear about internal security problems.31 Moreover, it is believed that Saddam’s enmity with Kuwait was developed because of the problems faced by minorities in Kuwait. In short, Iraq’s 1990-91 invasion and the occupation of Kuwait and the invasion by the Saudi controlled Wahaabi Ikhwan clearly revealed the depth of Kuwaiti nationalism and political culture. Kuwait was a country in which a lot of Palestinians were staying earlier. In fact the presence of Palestinians was welcomed by Kuwaitis. This is because of their sympathy towards Palestinians and the skills possessed by the Palestinians in contributing to Kuwait’s economic progress. However, the scenario has been changed during the later parts of twentieth century, especially after realizing the role of Palestinians in civil wars in Jordan and Lebanon.32 In short, Kuwait is giving priority to nationalism first and then only they think about the Arab nationalism. Works Cited Assiri, Abdul Reda. “Kuwait’s Foreign Policy”. West view special studies on Middle East. (please complete) Al-Nakib, Mai. “Outside in the Nation Machine: The Case of Kuwait”. Strategies, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2000. Al Ebraheem, Hassan Ali. “Kuwait and the Gulf”. (George Town university). 1984. Foreign policy (please complete) Katzman, Kenneth. “Kuwait: security reform and US Policy”. Congressional research service Report. 2014. Tetreault, Mary Ann. “Autonomy, Necessity and the Small state: Ruling Kuwait in the Twentieth Century". International Organization. Volume 45, No. 4. 1991. Tetreault, Mary Ann. “Politics and Society in Contemporary Kuwait”. (Columbia University Press. New York). (please put the year of publication) Read More