Because of its location and close cooperation with the United States, Kuwait is central to U.S. efforts to remain engaged in the northern Persian Gulf region following the completion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq at the end of 2011. Kuwait's ruling elites have been in a power struggle for nearly six years, but Kuwait has not faced the mass popular unrest that other governments throughout the Middle East have faced in 2011-2012.This report discusses Kuwait's relations with other countries in the Middle East.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about Egyptian president Sadat and five visiting Arab oil ministers who planned a meeting to discuss preventing an open quarrel over lifting the Arab oil embargo when they meet with other ministers in Libya.