In Defence of oil: Britain's response to the Iraqi threat towards Kuwait, 1961

Abstract

This article outlines the United Kingdom Government's response to the perceived Iraqi military threat towards Kuwait in June‐July 1961. It is argued that the decision to take the threat seriously was based on the perception of Kuwait's importance to British national interests coupled with the view that the Iraqis could launch a small‐scale surprise attack. While it has been argued elsewhere that the British military intervention in Kuwait was designed to bolster its prestige in the Middle East this article demonstrates that the policy of intervention was largely based on the fear of the risks entailed by any failure to ward of an Iraqi invasion off Kuwait.