UK to establish military base in Kuwait

Kuwait and the UK have reached an agreement to establish a British naval base in Kuwait to train the Kuwaiti army.

Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper yesterday quoting unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that members of the Joint Steering Committee will meet to discuss various aspects of cooperation between Kuwait and Britain including bilateral cooperation in fields of military, security, economy, culture and education.

The paper quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Al-Jarallah as saying that the British base has nothing to do with the border dispute with neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

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Kuwait’s Al-Qabas newspaper also cited unnamed sources saying that the British base will be limited and will begin work soon.

British Ambassador to Kuwait Michael Davenport said in October that the meeting scheduled for December will discuss operational and logistic aspects of the British forces’ presence in Kuwait.