On Wednesday (April 30), the Associated Press reported, citing a US official, that Kuwait has released an additional 10 American prisoners, bringing the total number of American citizens pardoned by the country in the past two months to 23, marking the largest-scale action of releasing American citizens by a single foreign country in recent years.
Prior to this, 10 American prisoners were released on March 12 after a visit to Kuwait by Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s hostage affairs envoy. Boehler mentioned that Kuwaiti officials had never received such a high-level release request from the US government before and responded positively, recognizing the US as an important ally and understanding that “bringing Americans home” is a priority for President Trump.
Boehler revealed that the release operation did not involve any exchange conditions, and the US was not required to make any concessions.
Kuwait is considered a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Since the US launched the Gulf War in 1991, expelling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s invading forces from Kuwait, the two countries have maintained close military cooperation. Currently, approximately 13,500 US troops are stationed at Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
However, the country has also detained multiple American military contractors, accusing them of drug-related charges, with some individuals being detained for several years. The families of the prisoners have alleged that their loved ones have been subjected to abuse in this country where alcohol is prohibited and drug laws are strict. Critics have also accused Kuwaiti authorities of fabricating charges and manufacturing evidence.
A spokesperson for the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press. Kuwait has never acknowledged the aforementioned allegations.
Jonathan Franks, a private advisor representing nine of the released individuals, stated in a release that the Americans released on Wednesday “assert their innocence, and importantly, these cases involve no clear victims and are entirely based on untranslated Arabic confessions.”
Franks also commended the Trump administration for “seeking opportunities to bring Americans home,” even if these individuals were not deemed by the US government as “wrongfully detained.” He mentioned, “These Americans, most of whom are military veterans, have been separated from their families for years.”