More information about Kuwait is available on the Kuwait Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-KUWAIT RELATIONS

Since they established diplomatic relations upon Kuwait’s independence in 1961, the United States and Kuwait have enjoyed a long history of friendship and cooperation, rooted in shared values, democratic traditions, and institutional relationships. In August 1990, Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. A U.S.-led multinational coalition subsequently liberated Kuwait in February 1991. The United States has continued to support Kuwait’s sovereignty and security, as well as its multilateral diplomatic efforts to build greater cooperation among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. From 2003, Kuwait provided the main platform for U.S. and coalition operations in Iraq, and has played a similar role in the fight against ISIS. A member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, it hosts the headquarters of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Kuwait is also an important partner in U.S. counterterrorism efforts, including efforts to block financing of terrorist groups.

U.S. Assistance to Kuwait

The United States provides no development assistance to Kuwait. The United States provides military and defense technical support to Kuwait through Foreign Military Sales as well as commercial sales. U.S. personnel assist the Kuwaiti military with training, education, and readiness. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait also provides support for English language education and professional development exchange programs.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The United States signed trade and investment framework agreements with Kuwait in 2004 and with the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which Kuwait is a member, in 2012, providing a forum to address mutual trade concerns and economic reforms.  The United States is one of Kuwait’s largest suppliers of goods and services, and Kuwait is one of the United States’ largest markets in the Middle East.  While competing on price can be challenging, U.S. firms do have a competitive advantage when it comes to the provision of advanced technology, especially in the fields of oil field equipment and services, power generation and distribution, telecommunications systems, automobiles, certain other consumer goods, and military equipment.

Kuwait currently sends the third-largest number of students to U.S. universities and colleges from the Middle East/North Africa region, and the 19th-largest number of students from any foreign country.

Kuwait’s Membership in International Organizations

Kuwait and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Kuwait is a participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.

Bilateral Representation

Principal Embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Kuwait maintains an embassy in the United States at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel. (202) 966-0702.

More information about Kuwait is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

CIA World Factbook Kuwait Page 
U.S. Embassy
History of U.S. Relations With Kuwait
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Country Page 
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics 
Export.gov International Offices Page 
Library of Congress Country Studies 
Travel Information

U.S. Department of State

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