By: Glen, Jia En, Grant, Ting Peng

Class: 4/5
Response to diplomatic attempts in
the conflict between Iraq and
Kuwait
• Iraq was favourable for a resolution to the
conflict.
• Agreed to withdraw from Kuwait.
• Disallowed the ruling government back
into power.
• The Arab league condemned Saddam’s
actions, making him upset and defiant.
 Iraq’s response to diplomatic
attempts
• The US troop build-up in Iraq caused Iraq to
declare its annexation of Kuwait.
• Thus Iraq would not withdraw from Kuwait.
• As coalition forces strengthened, Iraq took
westerners in Iraq and Kuwait hostage.
• Hostages were used as human shields to deter
any coalition attacks and bombings.
• Iraq drafted a demand to release the hostages if
the coalition troops withdrew from the middle
east.
 Iraq’s response to diplomatic
attempts
• After international countries criticized strongly,
Iraq set free the women the children.
• After a few months, diplomatic efforts managed to
release other hostages.
• Coalition invaded Saudi Arabia, thus Iraq agreed
to discuss an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait.
• Certain pre-conditions were requested for the
withdrawal from Kuwait.
• Iraq requests were for full control of the Rumaila
Oilfield and access to the Gulf.
 Iraq’s response to diplomatic
attempts
• United Nations gave Iraq a deadline on 15
January 1991 to withdraw their troops.
• US arranged a meeting between Iraqi and the
US secretary of state in Geneva, Switzerland.
• However no resolution was reached at the
meeting.
• Another diplomatic attempt to resolve the conflict
was not successful.
 Impact of economic sanctions
• There were debates over whether the use of
force was necessary to remove Iraq from
Kuwait.
• After a year or so then there would be a full
impact of sanctions.
• The US decided that it would take too long to get
Iraq out of Kuwait and would only work if UN
members adhered strictly to the sanctions.
• Eventually force was used to remove Iraq from
Kuwait.
 Outbreak of war.
• Iraq did not withdraw from Kuwait before the
deadline.
• Thus Operation Desert Storm was implemented
to force Iraq out of Kuwait.
• The coalition forces destroyed Iraq command
and control capability.
• Communication centers were targeted and
destroyed and Iraq’s air force was disabled
during the bombings.
• War officially ended when a ceasefire was called
when Kuwait City was regained.
• Do you think the coalition
members should have accepted
Iraq’s terms for withdrawal?

No. The pre-conditions were too unreasonable. For one,

Rumaila Oilfield was a great sector for Kuwait’s economy
and it was a source of living for Kuwaitis. The acquisition
of Rumaila would mean that Iraq controlled 20% of the
worlds’ oil population. That would mean they would set
the standards for the prices of oil and if there was a dire
need, Iraq could raise the prices steeply.
Iraq also demanded for the acquisition of the
access of the Gulf. Having a limited sea space for
oil tankers to enter the country, means that Iraq
will have lesser oil tankers entering the country to
transport oil.
As Gulf has a spacious sea space. Without having
full access to Gulf, which allows oil tankers to park
in, Iraq would not be able to have more oil tankers
to import out oil supplies to other part of the world.
Which also means lesser business opportunities
for the country and depletion of economy.
The End!