U.S. Policy in the Persian Gulf and Kuwaiti Reflagging
Abstract
I believe a consensus exists in the Administration, the Congress, and the country on the basic U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf region. The unimpeded flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is a vital interest and critical to the economic health of the Western world; another very important interest is freedom of navigation for nonbelligerent shipping in and through the gulf. The security, stability, and cooperation of the moderate states of the area are important to our political and economic goals. We have a major interest in standing by our friends in the gulf. At present, that means helping them deal with the threat from Khomeini's Iran. We have an interest in limiting the Soviet Union's influence and presence in the gulf, an area of great strategic interest to the Soviets because of Western dependency on its oil supplies. These interests are threatened by the escalation of the Iran-Iraq war. To protect them, we are following a two-track policy: to galvanize greater international pressure to persuade the belligerents to negotiate an end to the conflict; and to protect our interests and help protect the security of moderate, friendly Arab states in the gulf. Late last year, to counter Iranian targeting of Kuwait-associated shipping, Kuwait approached both the Soviet Union and the United States to explore ways to protect Kuwaiti-owned oil shipping. Kuwait's request to place ships under the American flag was an unusual step in an unusual situation. We have taken this action with 11 Kuwaiti tankers to support two important and specific U.S. security interests in the gulf: (1) to help Kuwait counter immediate intimidation and thereby discourage Iran from similar attempts against the other moderate gulf states; and (2) to limit, to the extent possible, an increase in Soviet military presence and influence in the gulf.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA496911
Entities
People
- Michael H. Armacost