The nation of Kuwait was created in 1922 by the British to protect their control of Kuwaiti oil. The territory had been a part of the province of Basra of the Ottoman Empire, so there was a strong claim that Kuwait was rightfully Iraqi territory. The UK drew the border between Kuwait and Iraq in a way that made Iraq almost entirely landlocked. The tension between Kuwait and Iraq came to a head in 1989, when Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing oil by its use of horizontal drilling. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait and took control.
The Gulf War was also a key prophetic event in the struggle between the King of the North and the King of the South. A coalition of nations led by the United States came to the assistance of Kuwait. This unusual coalition was prophesied in Daniel 11:6:
After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the King of the South will go to the King of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last.
Kuwait is related to the spiritual power called the King of the South, but not so directly as Iran and Iraq. That is why Kuwait is referred to as a daughter. Kuwait went to the United States (the King of the North) for assistance. This was very strange; an Islamic country asking a Western power for help.
Saudi Arabia was also afraid of Iraq. It also formed an alliance with the United States to force Iraq back, so it should also be understood as a daughter of the King of the South. The other Gulf States (Bahrain, Oman, UAE, and Qatar) have also made alliances with the United States. They have bought weapons from the United States and built bases for the US to use in return for protection.
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