The government also continues to improve defence arrangements with other Arab states, as well as UN Security Council members. Since the war, Kuwait, with the help of the United States and other allies, has made significant efforts to increase the size and modernity of their armed forces. Much of the property that was returned by Iraq after the Persian Gulf War was damaged beyond repair. Aside from the few units that were able to escape to Saudi Arabia, including a majority of the air force, all of this equipment was either destroyed or taken by the Iraqis. Formally neutral and reluctant to become involved with the great powers except as a last resort, Kuwait turned to the United States, the Soviet Union and Britain for naval protection of its tanker fleet after twenty-one ships were attacked in the gulf since late 1986.īefore the Persian Gulf War, Kuwait maintained a small military force with equipment supplied by the United Kingdom and the United States. Kuwait responded to terrorist bombings and other violence inspired by Iran by intensifying its military cooperation with the GCC and by building up its own military. Fearful of the radical leadership in Iran, Kuwait aided Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War by permitting the transshipment of goods across its territory and by loans of about six billion US dollars. Forty kilometers away is Iran, who had proclaimed its aim of exporting its Iranian Revolution while the other powerful neighbor, Iraq, had repeatedly challenged Kuwait's legitimacy and subsequently invaded Kuwait twice. With its small size and enormous oil wealth, Kuwait occupies a strategic position at the head of the Persian Gulf. By 1961, a British military mission had converted the constabulary into a combined a brigade of 2,500 men which also established small air and naval forces in 1961. Kuwaiti forces consisted of the Emir's guard plus a small 600-man police force or constabulary under British administration. Kuwait was a British protectorate from 1899 until 1961 and although a succession of Emirs of the Al Sabah ruled the country, foreign affairs and defence was a British prerogative. The Kuwaiti Army has a military base on Bubiyan Island, which has been established in 1991. The Kuwaiti National Guard is an internal and border security force. The Kuwait Air Force numbers approximately 2,500 officer and enlisted personnel. The Air Force headquarters is located at Al Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining forces stationed at Air Defence Brigade, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base. The Kuwait Air Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) is the air arm of the State of Kuwait. The Kuwait Naval Force numbers approximately 2,000 officers and enlisted personnel, including approximately 400 coast guard. The headquarters and sole naval base is Ras al-Qulayah Naval Base, located in the south of Kuwait, approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Kuwait City. The Kuwaiti Navy is the Kuwait Naval Force, is the sea-based component of the Military of Kuwait. Kuwait also has received United States, Russian, and Egyptian armored vehicles. Kuwait's postwar equipment orders include 200 M-84 tanks (from Yugoslavia to offset previous Yugoslav oil purchases ) and eighteen self-propelled 155mm guns from France. The Kuwaiti Army is the primary land force of the Military of Kuwait. The Military of Kuwait consists of the following organizations: Air Marshal Fahad Al-Amir, Chief of the General Staff, speaks to U.S.
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