Kuwait Bars Permanent American Base
Kuwait’s defense minister said Monday that the United States will not be allowed to maintain a permanent military presence in his country.
“Kuwait has no intention of granting a permanent base to the United States or to allied troops, but friendly countries will definitely have a role in maintaining the security of the region and the defense of Kuwait,” Sheik Ali al Salim al Sabah told reporters after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
He said he had discussed the possibility of an Arab troop presence with Mubarak but would give no details for the time being.
“The presence of Arab troops--Egyptian, Syrian and Gulf--will be the basis of military presence in Kuwait,” he said.
In March, Kuwait and five other Gulf oil-producing countries signed an agreement with Cairo and Damascus under which Egypt and Syria would keep a military force in the Gulf.
Egypt, however, announced this month that it was recalling all its forces from the region.
Ali said it was up to Egypt whether to keep its troops in Kuwait or pull them out.
The Kuwaiti defense minister arrived in Damascus later Monday for talks with Syrian leaders.
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