Desert storm Blair wanted Kuwait to buy UK artillery as ‘payback’ for support in Gulf War

Sir Tony Blair begged Kuwait to buy the UK’S latest artillery as payback for supporting the Middle Eastern nation in the Gulf War.

The prime minister repeatedly lobbied Sheikh Sa’ad, the crown prince, between 1998 and 1999.

Previously classified internal briefing notes show the Government believed it was “due the award of a significant defence equipment contract in recognition of its defence of Kuwait” after the invasion of Iraqi forces by Saddam Hussein in 1990.

Minutes of the Kuwait bilateral, in January 1999, reveal Sir Tony heeded a request by Foreign Office officials to talk up the AS90 howitzer, amid concerns that the arms contract would go to the US and its M109.

A restricted memo from Philip Barton, the No10 private secretary, covering the meeting, said: “The prime minister raised the AS90. He hoped very much that all the support we had given Kuwait would be remembered.”

The efforts did not immediately reap rewards, though, as Kuwait said it intended to buy US artillery two months after Sir Tony’s visit.