The History of U美国历史.S.Kuwait Relations.pptVIP

The History of U.S.-Kuwait Relations State of Kuwait June 19, 1961 Kuwait gained full independence from Britain January 23, 1962 First elections to the National Assembly November 11, 1962 Kuwait’s Constitution was put into effect 1963 Kuwait became the 111th member of the United Nations The beginnings of the U.S.-Kuwait relationship The relationship between the two countries really began in the early 20th century, when Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, invited the Reformed Church of America to open a medical center in Kuwait. The hospital was opened in 1911 and is known to Kuwaitis as the American Hospital. Oil relations began in the 1930s, when Kuwait Oil Company was formed as a joint venture between the British Anglo-Persian Oil company and the American Gulf Oil company. In October 1951 the U.S. opened a consulate in Kuwait which was elevated to embassy status when the country received its independence in 1961. The Gulf War August 2, 1990 Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait threatening the country’s sovereignty and existence. Iraq claimed that Kuwait was harming its country economically by refusing to reduce its oil production and it tried to annex Kuwait by claiming that the country had historically been part of Iraq. The U.S. led an international coalition of 30 states to reverse the occupation. The Iraqis were forcibly ejected on February 26, 1991 at the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm (headed by the U.S.). November 1994 Iraq formally accepted Kuwaiti sovereignty along with a UN-demarcated border. The Post-Gulf War relationship The post-Gulf War relationship has remained strong between the two countries. Kuwait and the U.S. worked together to monitor and enforce Iraq’s compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. Kuwait provided the main platform for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, it reserved 60% of its total land mass for use by coalition forces and donated more than $350 million in assistance in kind (primarily fuel). The U.S.-Kuwait relationship today The