Abstract
A key to the handling of the Iraqi crisis in 1990 was the new Soviet-US relationship, particularly the unprecedented cooperation between the Superpowers in response to crises in the Third World. If the United States had not been more certain of the Soviet response, it would have been far more hazardous — if not impossible — to transfer most of its ground forces and modern armour in Europe to the Gulf. If the Soviet Union had lacked confidence about US intentions toward a region so close to its borders, it would have been politically difficult for President Mikhail Gorbachev to endorse the massive US build-up and join the political and psychological campaign against Saddam Hussein. For the first time since the Suez crisis in 1956, the US and the Soviet Union did not back different clients in a Middle East conflict and, for the first time since the Six-Day War in 1967, Moscow did not offer diplomatic and political protection for an Arab client.
‘We’ve got to stay together on this.’ President Gorbachev to Secretary of State Baker during the Gulf crisis in 1990
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
Patrick E. Tyler, ‘Iraq is Delaying Soviet Departure’, The New York Times, 17 December 1990, p. Al; Carey Goldberg, `Moscow Denies Advisers Help Iraq’, The Los Angeles Times, 14 August 1990, p. 42.
A. Konoplyanik, Arguments and Facts, 1, January 1991, p. 6.
Andrew ‘Rosenthal, ’Bush Fails to Gain Soviet Agreement on Gulf Force Use’, The New York Times, 20 November 1990, p. 1.
Paul Lewis, ‘UN Gives Iraq Until Jan. 15 to Retreat or Face Force: Hussein Says He Will Fight’, The New York Times, 30 November 1990, p. 25.
Margaret Garrard Warner, ‘The Moscow Connection’, Newsweek, 17 September 1990, p. 25.
David Hoffman, ‘Soviets Said to Reject Baker Plea on Gulf‘, The Washington Post 11 December 1990, p. A1.
John M. Goshko, ‘UN Boosts Pressure on Baghdad’, The Washington Post, 30 October 1990, p. 1.
Rick Atkinson and David Hoffman, ‘Commitment in Pullout From Kuwait Sought’, The Washington Post, 30 January 1991, p. 1.
Maureen Dowd, ‘Allies to Consult’, The New York Times 22 February 1991, p. Al.
US News and World Report 10 September 1990, p. 25.
Gary Lee and Rick Atkinson, ‘Soviet General Warns of World War’, The Washington Post, 28 September 1990, p. 20.
Michael Dobbs and David Remnick, ‘Soviets Hail Mideast Statement as an Important Shift in US Policy’, The Washington Post, 31 January 1991, p. A15.
Ann Devroy, ‘Bush Offers UN Hope on Gulf’, The Washington Post, 2 October 1990, p. 1.
Margaret Garrard Warner, Newsweek, 17 September 1990, p. 24.
Edward Cody, ‘Iraq Warns Soviets Against Giving US Military Information’, The Washington Post, 13 October 1990, p. 17.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1993 Royal United Services Institute
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ekedahl, C., Goodman, M. (1993). The Soviet Union and Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait. In: Hollis, R. (eds) The Soviets, Their Successors and the Middle East. RUSI Defence Studies Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-22968-0_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-22968-0_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-22970-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-22968-0
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)