The Road to Invasion: Analyzing the Forces Behind Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait

Abstract

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait was largely prompted by Saddam Hussein and the Baathist party’s long-standing claim over Kuwait combined with Iraq’s desperate need for wealth to rectify the country's economic crisis after the Iran-Iraq war. Additionally, the invasion can be seen as Hussein’s hubristic, direct attempt to establish Iraq as the hegemon of the Arab world in a new post-Cold War era. The disputes leading up to the invasion highlight how Iraq’s deep-rooted territorial claims and the Kuwaiti government’s refusal to surrender control of disputed territories, led to increasing tensions and hostilities between the two countries. Kuwait’s refusal to surrender to Saddam Hussein’s economic demands surrounding Iraq’s debt to Kuwait and oil exports, angered Hussein leading him to take drastic measures to repair the Iraqi economy. Invading Kuwait offered a direct solution to Iraq's economic crisis and the brewing prominent, domestic resentment at the mismanagement of the distribution of Iraqi finances. Hussein’s overconfidence in Iraq’s military capabilities and naivete led him to develop a warped perception of the U.S. resolve to defend Kuwait. His past failures made him desperate, leading him to take the considerable risk of invading Kuwait. The decision to invade Kuwait was influenced by many factors. Saddam Hussein’s misjudgements led to a humiliating loss which worsened the economic climate in Iraq. International sanctions severely limited Iraq's trade, making it more difficult to rebuild the extensive infrastructure destroyed by the invasion. Ultimately, the invasion contributed to political instability in Iraq which lay the groundwork for the Iraq war.