Kuwait

Kuwait, small independent Arab state on the northwest coast of the Persian Gulf, bordered by Iraq (northwest) and Saudi Arabia (south). Though mostly desert, it has been a major oil-producing country and possesses more than 10% of the world's estimated oil reserves. Its independence was jeopardized in Aug. 1990, when Iraq, on the pretext of settling a border dispute but also interested in obtaining control of Kuwaiti oil, invaded the country and announced its annexation. The ensuing Persian Gulf War (begun in Jan. 1991) pitted the United States and its allies, with the sanction of UN resolutions calling for the restoration of Kuwait's independent status, in a military action against Iraq to roll back the invasion.

Economy

Kuwait's traditional economy was based on the export of wool and hides and pearl fishing. With the discovery (1946) and exploitation of its huge oil reserves, the enormous wealth generated by the petroleum industry allowed the government to establish a widespread social welfare system that made Kuwait one of the world's wealthier nations on the basis of per capita income. In the 1960s the government also embarked on an ambitious modernization and diversification program. Until the Iraqi invasion, the capital, also called Kuwait, was a thoroughly modern city. The ruler, called emir, appointed the prime minister. More than half the population was madeup of non-Kuwaiti citizens, who held a majority of the jobs, as many native Kuwaitis lacked adequate education and training. The government had put special effort into training Kuwaitis to help them take more control of their economy.

History

In the early 19th century Arabs settled on the southern shore of Kuwait Bay and elected the head of the Al-Sabah family to be their ruler, establishing a dynasty unbroken to the present. Even as part of the Ottoman Empire, Kuwait retained its independent government under the Al-Sabahs. It was a British protectorate from 1897 until 1961, when it became independent. In 1967 Kuwait sided with Egypt in its war against Israel, as it did again in 1973. Also in that year, Kuwait, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), joined with other Arab oil-exporting countries in halting oil shipments to countries that supported Israel. In 1976 the emir dissolved the National Assembly. A new assembly was elected in 1981 but dissolved by the emir in 1986. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) Iran began attacking Kuwaiti oil tankers because Kuwait had sided with Iraq and was aiding that country with financial and other support. In 1987 Kuwait requested help from the Soviet Union and the United States to protect its shipping. The Soviet Union leased some ships to Kuwait that carried the Soviet flag, which prevented Iran from attacking them. The U.S. Navy provided armed escorts for Kuwaiti-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf.

Soon after a cease-fire in 1979 ended Iran-Iraq hostilities, Iraq turned on its former ally and demanded settlement of a dispute involving an oil field along their mutual border and some small islands in the Persian Gulf. In Aug. 1990 Iraq sent troops into the lightly defended country and proclaimed it part of Iraq. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, fearful that a powerful Iraq might continue its agression against them, asked the United States and the United Nations to condemn the action and restore Kuwait to its independence. A large multinational force, overwhelmingly composed of the U.S. military, rushed to Saudi Arabia to protect it against aggression. In Jan. 1991 this force commenced hostilities against Iraq and its troops in Kuwait with the aim of restoring the pre-invasion status of Kuwait. However, as many Kuwaitis fled the country and as Kuwait itself suffered so much damage from the occupation and the allied efforts to dislodge it, expectations are that restoring Kuwait to its former condition will be a long process.