Relations between Kuwait and the UK p.14

FCO 8/5481 1984 Jan 01 - 1984 Dec 31
DSR 11C

the Kuwaiti border post with Iraq and a minor gas

gathering centre and is assumed to have inspired, if not

actually directed, the December 1983 bombings. Kuwait is

only likely to come under direct military threat from

Iran if Iran succeeded in occupying southern Iraq, but

the threat from subversion continues. The Iran/Iraq war

has forced Kuwait to move closer to Iraq but in the

مام

longer term Iraq remains a threat. There is a dormantborder dispute and historically the Iraqis have been

unrestrained in their interventions within Kuwait,

whether directly or by Palestinian proxy. Kuwait is the

only Gulf State to have resident diplomatic missions from

the Eastern Bloc: all these countries work hard to

establish a base in Kuwait for extending their

information on the rest of the Gulf. Kuwait is not

always aware of the communist countrys' ulterior motives

and continues to believe she can handle them.

SECTION VII

(a)

Threats

Iranian inspired subversion; involuntary involvement ofKuwait in the Gulf war possibly resuling in further hitand run Iranian attacks; domestic instability caused by

Sunni/Shi'a divisions and the growth of Islamic

fundamentalism or by Middle East political issues, egPalestinauns resentful of the discrimination against themou moined by developments on baby Israel