What was the primary objective of the Gulf War (1990-1991) for the United States?

• A. To secure oil reserves
• B. To liberate Kuwait and restore the international boundary and stability in the region
• C. To invade Iraq
• D. To topple Saddam Hussein

Answer: (B)

When a state violates another’s sovereignty, the immediate goal is to restore that sovereignty and maintain regional order, backed by international legitimacy. In the Gulf War, the United States and its allies responded to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait by aiming to eject Iraqi forces, liberate Kuwait, and restore its international boundary. This also served to uphold UN resolutions and deter further aggression, signaling that such acts would be met with a coordinated, authorized response to preserve stability in the Persian Gulf and keep global oil routes secure. The mission focused on Kuwait’s freedom and the restoration of the regional order, not on seizing oil resources or overthrowing Saddam Hussein.