US approves huge $3 billion sale of NASAMS air-defence system to Kuwait used to guard White House

The US State Department on Thursday gave the green light for the sale of a cutting-edge medium-range missile defence system to its Gulf ally Kuwait.

The $3 billion purchase will allow Kuwait to own the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, known as NASAMS, used by Washington to protect the airspace above the White House and the Pentagon.

This approval comes after the US approved the potential sale of operational and training rounds for M1A2 Abrams tanks to Kuwait last month, in a deal valued at up to $250 million.

The equipment would provide Kuwait with the ability to deter and defend against land-based threats, and help protect border regions and key land-based infrastructure, the Pentagon said in a statement.

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Unlike fellow Gulf states that have developed their military capabilities amid high tensions and geographic proximity to regional rival Iran, Kuwait has relatively better ties with Tehran.

Small and oil-rich Kuwait is considered a major non-NATO ally of the US.

Kuwait and the US have had a close military partnership since the latter launched the 1991 Gulf War to expel Iraqi troops after dictator Saddam Hussein invaded his southern neighbour.

Some 13,500 American troops are stationed in Kuwait, which also hosts US Army Central’s forward headquarters. These forces supported the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and later operations against the Islamic State group.