Kuwait's Position on the Lockerbie Crisis Between Libya and the West (1988-1993)

Abstract

This study explores the official position of the State of Kuwait during the Lockerbie crisis, which erupted after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, and the subsequent international confrontation with Libya. The research examines Kuwait’s alignment with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 748 (1992) and 883 (1993), which imposed sanctions on Libya due to its refusal to hand over two suspects accused of orchestrating the attack.

Through a historical-analytical approach, the study argues that Kuwait’s support for these resolutions was rooted not in hostility toward Libya as a fellow Arab state, but in a broader post-1990 strategic shift in Kuwaiti foreign policy following the Iraqi invasion. Kuwait adopted a principled stance favoring international legality, accountability, and opposition to state-sponsored terrorism.

The paper highlights how the Lockerbie crisis served as a platform for Kuwait to reinforce its commitment to international law, bolster its diplomatic ties with Western powers, and solidify its role as a responsible member of the international community. The study concludes that Kuwait’s foreign policy response to the crisis was both pragmatic and value-driven, aiming to strengthen regional stability and ensure its national security through international legal mechanisms.