Kuwait as a Regional Mediator: Small-state Diplomacy and Soft Power in Middle Eastern Conflicts

Mohammed Torki Bani Salameh and Bandar Majed Alotaibi

Contemporary Review of the Middle East, 2026, vol. 13, issue 1, 54-74

Abstract: This study examines Kuwait’s role as a mediator in regional conflicts, with a focus on its involvement in the 2017 Gulf crisis and its diplomatic efforts in the Iran–Gulf and Lebanese disputes. Despite its small size, Kuwait has leveraged its soft power, neutrality, and humanitarian diplomacy to position itself as an important actor in Middle Eastern conflict resolution. The research highlights Kuwait’s success in preserving the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cohesion during the Qatar blockade and its continued support for Lebanon’s political stability. The article argues that Kuwait’s mediation strategy blends traditional Arab reconciliation practices with modern diplomatic principles, allowing it to de-escalate tensions and maintain open dialogue. However, structural challenges—including sectarian divisions and external interventions—limit the scope of its influence. Ultimately, the study concludes that Kuwait’s foreign policy presents a viable model for small-state diplomacy, emphasizing regional stability, principled negotiation, and long-term engagement over short-term resolutions.

Keywords: Kuwaiti mediation; Gulf crisis; small state diplomacy; small-state foreign policy; Iran; regional stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:crmide:v:13:y:2026:i:1:p:54-74

DOI: 10.1177/23477989251400506

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