KUWAIT MILDLY CONCERNED OVER PROSPECTIVE ARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000992 SIPDIS NEA/ARP, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR PINS MASS IZ KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT MILDLY CONCERNED OVER PROSPECTIVE ARMS SALES TO IRAQ REF: STATE 91327 Classified By: Political Counselor Peter O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b an d d. ¶1. (C) POLCOUNS on September 15 raised reftel points concerning USG plans to support the Iraqi Security Forces transition plan through sales of U.S. weapons and military equipment with Ambassador Khaled Mohammed Al-Muqamis, director of MFA's Follow-up and Coordination Office. In presenting the demarche, POLCOUNS emphasized ongoing USG commitment to Kuwait's security and our determination to ensure that these sales do not provide Iraq with an offensive capacity that could some day be turned against Kuwait. ¶2. (C) In his response, Muqamis raised no objection to the sales, beyond noting that word of them had leaked into the Kuwaiti press, where a number of commentators had expressed concern about the re-arming of Iraq. Muqames noted, however, that the GOK would be interested in knowing more about what is contained in the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The GOK, in particular, would be interested to know if the SOFA contains language that guarantees Kuwait's security or eliminates the possibility that Iraqi weapons could be used against Kuwait. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER