Iran Changed the Equation? US Reconsiders Presence in Kuwait

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the US is considering reducing its military presence in Kuwait following Iranian attacks that hit American bases and killed six soldiers. Kuwait fears the temporary move will become permanent and has signed a defense agreement with Pakistan while considering strengthening its air defense systems.

The United States is considering reducing its military presence in Kuwait, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Senior American officials say Pentagon discussions on reducing troop levels in the country began even before the outbreak of war with Iran. However, since attacks on American bases in Kuwait began, some forces have been evacuated in practice to reduce risk – and now Kuwait fears the temporary move will become permanent. Over the decades since Kuwait's liberation in the First Gulf War, the emirate has become one of the US military's main logistics hubs worldwide. Thousands of American soldiers, Abrams tanks, and heavy equipment were stationed there, and the military presence gave Kuwait a sense of security against regional threats – but the war with Iran has changed the game. Tehran attacked Kuwait with hundreds of missiles and drones, targeting vital infrastructure – power plants, desalination facilities, the international airport, and ports in the Persian Gulf. In addition, oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz were halted. Although the US notes that air defense systems intercepted most attacks and saved many lives, American bases themselves became targets for repeated strikes – including an attack in March that killed six American soldiers. Kuwait has so far managed to cope with the damage using reserves and emergency repairs, but the attacks exposed the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure and the risk of continued fighting. They also raised questions about the effectiveness of the American military presence in defending the country. Meanwhile, the US has begun to re-examine the scale of its military presence in Kuwait. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Pentagon had already considered reducing forces before the conflict broke out, and in response to Iranian attacks it further reduced its presence to minimize risks. The assessment is that a large, permanent presence is not necessarily essential or militarily wise in the current reality. On the other hand, Kuwait emphasizes that it still needs a stable American commitment to its security. However, the country has already signed a new defense agreement with Pakistan and may act to expand its air defense array and purchase additional systems. The conflict with Iran demonstrated that even a broad American military presence does not provide full protection. More than 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from desalination facilities, some of which were damaged in the attacks, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz halted oil exports – about 2 million barrels per day – and damaged the country's main source of income. "They are now caught in a difficult place," said Elizabeth Dent, a former senior Pentagon official. "They want the war to end, but they also want to put an end to any threat from Iran." The security relationship between the US and Kuwait was built after the Gulf War, when Washington led an international coalition that repelled Iraqi forces from the country. Since then, Kuwait has become a major logistics base for American military operations in the region, with thousands of soldiers stationed at various bases. But now, in light of the missile and drone threat from Iran, the security reality is changing. What was considered for years an anchor of stability – the American presence – is also becoming a factor that attracts fire and raises questions about the way forward.