Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kuwait Steven Butler reiterated his country’s commitment to Kuwait’s security, sovereignty and stability while addressing a ceremony that also celebrated the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Butler spoke at the US Embassy event attended by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The remarks drew on the deep historical ties that have shaped bilateral cooperation since the early 20th century.
For generations, Americans and Kuwaitis have built connections through education, medicine, business, culture, and, above all, through the friendship between our citizens, Butler said. That friendship has also been tested in difficult moments. During Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the United States stood with Kuwait and led the international coalition that liberated the country in 1991.
More recently, our countries once again stood together in defense of Kuwait’s security, Butler added in his address. These moments demonstrate that the US-Kuwait relationship is more than a diplomatic partnership—it is a friendship built on trust and strengthened through shared challenges. Butler expressed pride in the reopening of the US embassy in June following nearly four months of suspended operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Kuwait on June 24, including his meetings with His Highness the Amir and Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah, further underscored the enduring importance of this partnership, Butler noted. The State Department has repeatedly described Kuwait as a major non-NATO ally and a key strategic partner in the Gulf. This status has facilitated more than $20 billion in active Foreign Military Sales cases that support Kuwait’s military modernization efforts.
Pentagon officials announced in August 2026 that the two countries had agreed to deepen military cooperation during the 16th US-Kuwait Joint Military Commission, with new focus on counter-drone technology, air and missile defenses and maritime security. Kuwait formally joined the US State Partnership Program at that time and was paired with the Maryland National Guard for long-term military-to-military exchanges. The discussions also addressed streamlining arms transfers to accelerate Kuwait’s defense capabilities against regional threats.
Bilateral ties extend beyond security into trade, energy, education, science, technology and cybersecurity, according to multiple State Department releases. The department has characterized the overall relationship as deep, evolving and forward-looking, with defense cooperation forming one of its principal pillars. A Washington Institute policy analysis from September 2026 highlighted Kuwait’s role as a critical node for US force projection in the northern Persian Gulf amid ongoing regional challenges.
