Rank #48 · Middle East
Kuwait spends approximately $7.8 billion on defense annually — among the highest per-capita defense outlays in the world at roughly $1,600 per resident — despite fielding a force of only ~16,000 active troops. The disparity reflects Kuwait's experience of Iraqi invasion and occupation in 1990-1991 and a resulting permanent posture of US treaty dependence combined with large-scale procurement as insurance. The Kuwait Air Force operates Eurofighter Typhoons, F/A-18 Hornets, and has contracted Super Hornets — one of the most expensive small air forces in the world.
Kuwait's defense spending peaked at $8.24B in 2022 and has stabilized around $7.8B. As a petro-state, Kuwait's defense budget tracks oil revenues; the government has historically maintained defense at ~4-5% of GDP even in lean years, reflecting the post-1991 doctrine that collective security (US treaty) must be underpinned by independent procurement. Annual US Foreign Military Sales to Kuwait are substantial — Kuwaiti purchases of Super Hornets ($10.1B, 40 aircraft) and Eurofighters (28 aircraft at ~$10B) are among the largest-ever sales to a country of Kuwait's size. Kuwait also maintains significant pre-positioned US equipment stockpiles.
The Kuwait Armed Forces comprise the Army (~11,000), Air Force (~2,500), and Navy (~2,500), with a 6,600-strong National Guard paramilitary. The Air Force operates 137 aircraft including 27 F/A-18C Hornets, 20+ Eurofighter Typhoons (8 more on order), 2 Boeing C-17A strategic transports, and 3 KC-130J tankers. Attack helicopter assets include 16 AH-64D Apache Longbows (8 AH-64E on order). A contract for 40 F/A-18F Super Hornets ($10.1B, signed 2016) has been in delivery. Ground forces field M1A2 Abrams MBTs, M-84 tanks, and BMP-3 IFVs. Kuwait hosts multiple US military facilities including Camp Arifjan, Ali Al Salem Air Base, and Buehring.
Kuwait has virtually no domestic defense manufacturing. The country is entirely dependent on arms imports, primarily from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Kuwait's procurement philosophy prioritizes interoperability with US forces and the ability to rapidly integrate American reinforcements in a crisis — a legacy of 1991. The vast US pre-positioned equipment depot at Camp Arifjan represents the most significant military-industrial feature of Kuwait's defense posture. There is no significant effort to build domestic defense industrial capacity.
Kuwait's principal threat calculus has been defined by proximity to Iraq and Iran since 1990. The defeat of ISIS in Iraq (2017) reduced the immediate Sunni extremist threat. Iran remains the overarching concern: Kuwaiti shipping passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and Kuwait hosts US forces that Iran has repeatedly threatened. During the 2026 US-Iran conflict (Operation Epic Fury), Kuwait activated emergency protocols for its American base infrastructure. Kuwait also faces internal pressures: a large stateless "bidun" population (~100,000) remains a political fault line. Kuwait's parliament has historically resisted large conscript call-ups.
During Operation Epic Fury (February-April 2026), Kuwait placed its bases on high alert as US forces conducted operations against Iran. Kuwait formally called for restraint from all parties while allowing US operations to continue from its territory. F/A-18F Super Hornet deliveries from Boeing continued under the $10.1B contract. The Eurofighter Typhoon fleet reached 20 operational aircraft in 2025. Kuwait and Rheinmetall signed a memorandum in late 2024 exploring a potential ammunition manufacturing joint venture — the most significant domestic production conversation Kuwait has had in decades. Parliamentary dysfunction continued to complicate the defense budget approval process.
Kuwait's traumatic 1990-1991 Iraqi invasion and occupation created a permanent national security doctrine: maintain close US treaty ties and buy world-class military hardware in sufficient quantities to deter neighbors and enable rapid US reinforcement. With a population of ~4.9M but oil revenues enabling state budgets exceeding $80B, defense spending of $7.8B (~4.7% GDP) is politically and financially sustainable.
Kuwait operates 27 F/A-18C Hornets and 20+ Eurofighter Typhoons (with 8 more on order). A $10.1B contract for 40 F/A-18F Super Hornets was signed in 2016 with Boeing; deliveries are ongoing. This makes Kuwait one of few countries operating both Eurofighters and US carrier-capable jets simultaneously.
Yes. Kuwait hosts several major US installations: Camp Arifjan (Army), Ali Al Salem Air Base (Air Force), Camp Buehring, and others. These host thousands of US troops and prepositioned equipment under a Defense Cooperation Agreement. US forces used Kuwaiti bases as a primary logistics hub for the 2003 Iraq invasion and subsequent operations.