War with Iran strains alliance: US weighs reducing presence in Kuwait

The US is considering reducing its military presence in Kuwait after the war with Iran made American bases recurring targets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Tehran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones, and a March attack killed six American soldiers. Kuwait views the presence as both a burden and a vital necessity, and has signed a defense agreement with Pakistan.

The United States is reassessing the scale of its military presence in Kuwait, after the war with Iran turned American bases in the country into recurring targets for missile and drone attacks, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials familiar with the discussions. For over three decades, Kuwait has been one of the US military's most important logistics hubs worldwide, hosting thousands of troops, Abrams tanks, and artillery systems. However, Tehran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Kuwait, striking American bases, power plants, desalination facilities, the airport, and the Al-Ahmadi port. A March attack killed six American soldiers. The Pentagon has already reduced its footprint to mitigate risk, and now there is debate over whether a large, permanent deployment remains essential. Kuwait sees the American presence as both a target-attracting factor and a defensive necessity. Kuwait recently signed a defense agreement with Pakistan and may request new weapons systems. Over 90% of the country's drinking water comes from desalination plants, some of which have been damaged. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has halted Kuwaiti oil exports of nearly two million barrels per day, removing about 2% of global supply.