Law

3 December 2009An Agreement between Kuwait and Britain
The British-Kuwait Agreement of 1899 marked the founding of a great relationship between the two nations. This agreement defined Kuwait as an independent country under the protection of the British government. Both nations benefited from this agreement in the aspects of international relations, politics, and economics. This gave Britain sole control and mediation over Kuwait, while Kuwait on the other hand, gained a strong ally and protection against threats from neighboring nations like the Ottoman Empire. Indeed, it was a good decision for Kuwait to make this agreement because it helped them be established as an independent nation, without hindrances and interventions other than that of Britain.

Historically, Kuwait had good relations with Britain even before the 1899 agreement. The two made several agreements prior to 1899, including the first agreement between Britain and Kuwait in 1841, which relocates the British Factory from Basra to Kuwait for some period of time (The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait, 2007). Kuwait at that time enjoyed good political and commercial reputation even though it abstained from endorsing other countries. There were also instances that Kuwait employed British help in fending off their enemies from their neighboring nations Kuwait signed the Naval Agreement with Britain so that immediate action would taken to protect the country and their interests.

The new phase in Kuwait’s development and transformation was started when a new leader came into position. It was Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah who paved the way for rekindling international interest in the country, as well as the creation of railway projects and public transportation all over the country (Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, 2009). His most important decision was influenced by the impending threat from the Ottoman Empire, the greatest Islamic government in the region at that time. He began his move by arranging talks with the British delegates in the region. He immediately informed them of his desire to go under the protection of the British government in order to avoid getting dominated by the Ottoman Empire.

Initially, Great Britain shunned the request for protection of Kuwait, since it would entail a great deal of effort and resources, requiring them to provide military and financial commitments, as well as avoid having rifts with the Ottoman Empire. But when the interests of other nations came in conflict with the British government, they decided that pursue the protectorate agreement previously proposed by Kuwait. So in January 1899, Kuwait is officially under British protection (Scott, 1961).

The British-Kuwait Agreement of 1899 states that “the Sheikh of Kuwait, acting on his own accord and at his own discretion, pledges that he would forever refuse an agent on his territories from any state or government without the consent of the British Government and would not mandate, lease, mortgage or dispose of any part of his territories without its consent (The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait, 2007).”

The agreement between the two nations is classified as an agreement for the exchange of benefits, so it is clearly for their best interests that they pursued it. It is not an arbitrary agreement wherein one would benefit at the expense of the other, so even if their reasons may be self serving, this agreement is perhaps their best option at that time. So even though it was identified as a Protectorate Agreement, both parties are on equal footing when it comes to benefits and sacrifices. An example of this would be the guarantees and exceptions that British got from the agreement which was solely for their benefit, in exchange for having a British agent in Kuwait. Also, Britain would support Kuwait against the advances of the Ottoman Empire and their attempts interfere with Kuwait’s affairs. In turn, Sheikh Mubarak would be the one to obtain the weapons that will be used to fight their enemies.

I think Kuwait made the right call when they became signatory to the treaty/agreement. It was a win-win situation for Kuwait and Great Britain, and I don’t see any reason for them to pursue the agreement. Both nations made sacrifices, but the benefits that they get are worth every effort.

There are also some drawbacks from this agreement. Indeed, Kuwait may not be able to do as it pleases with its lands and territories since the agreement limited their rights to deal with their lands without seeking the approval of the British government. But they still have control over the affairs inside their country, since the agreement doesn’t give rights to intervene to Kuwait’s internal affairs. Also, we have to consider Kuwait’s situation prior to the agreement. They were at the brink of Ottoman intervention. With them, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll have control over their internal affairs. Creating the Britain-Kuwait Agreement of 1899 was clearly the better choice over Ottoman intervention/invasion.

The British-Kuwait Agreement solidified the relationship between Great Britain and Kuwait. It favors both of them, because the benefits that they get outweighed their sacrifices. Indeed, it was a good decision for Kuwait to make this agreement because it helped them be established as an independent nation, without hindrances and interventions other than that of Britain.