prepare and submit a paper on kuwaits foreign policy. 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.
Your assignment is to prepare and submit a paper on kuwaits foreign policy. 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.