Security
US approval of Kuwait military vehicle maintenance deal fortifies Gulf alliance
The potential military sale would strengthen Gulf state's capability to maintain and refurbish critical US-made military transportation equipment.
The military deals between the Gulf States and the United States prove that the latter is the ideal and permanent partner for these countries. The US approval of a military sale to Kuwait confirms the strategic partnership between the Gulf States and the United States.
By Noureddine Omar |
With the approval of a military sale to Kuwait, focused on maintenance, repair and sustainment services for a fleet of US-made military vehicles, the United States has underscored its commitment to the longstanding security partnership.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which supports US national security and foreign policy interests and trains, educates, advises and equips foreign security forces, notified US Congress of the possible sale December 10.
The approved package includes equipment and services to refurbish military vehicle maintenance facilities in Kuwait and enhance maintenance capabilities with tools, parts and enhanced repair capabilities for AGT1500 engines.
The AGT1500 is a gas turbine engine that powers the M1 Abrams tank.
![US and Kuwaiti forces conduct wargame scenarios during Exercise Eager Defender 24 at Mohammad Al-Ahmad Naval Base, Kuwait, January 31, 2024. [US Marine Corps]](/gc1/images/2025/01/27/48858-kuwait-eager-defender-600_384.webp)
The maintenance package covers M1A2 and M1A2K Abrams tanks, M88A1 and M88A2 Hercules Recovery vehicles, M577A2 and M577A3 command vehicles, as well as M113A1, M113A2 and M113A3 armored personnel carriers.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the infrastructure of a major non-NATO ally," the DSCA said.
It noted that Kuwait "has been an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."
Strategic partnership
"Most of the Kuwaiti armed forces' armament is US-made," said Lt. Col. Nasser Rashid, a retired Kuwaiti army infantry officer.
Ongoing security cooperation between Kuwait and the United States includes military advice, training and periodic exercises, he told Al-Fassel.
These include joint military exercises such as Eager Defender 24, held in January and February 2024, which saw US and Kuwaiti forces conducting bilateral maritime drills in Kuwait and northern Gulf waters.
These maneuvers aimed to help participants "acquire the necessary skills to effectively address regional security threats and increase interoperability between both militaries," according to US Central Command.
Kuwait also hosts several US military bases, with some facilities designated for US Army units and others shared with Kuwaiti forces, Rashid said.
At the 15th US-Kuwaiti Joint Military Commission in Kuwait City in May, the two nations reaffirmed their "bilateral strategic partnership and the importance of continuing to expand the defense relationship," according to the Pentagon.
Kuwait plays a key role in maintaining regional security by hosting the headquarters of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve -- the international coalition against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).
The Gulf state also serves as a key partner in counterterrorism efforts, according to the US State Department.
Recent regional developments have "confirmed the effectiveness of US-Gulf strategy in maintaining stability across the region," Saudi military expert Mansour al-Shehri told Al-Fassel.
This strategic partnership "will continue to expand both geographically and in military capability," he said.