Kuwait Releases Another 10 U.S. Citizens in Per Islamic State Group Pressure - Second Monthly Release
Loose Cannon: Kuwait Slingshots Two-Dozen Yanks Outta Jail
In a surprising show of goodwill, ol' Kuwait has dropped the bolts on 23 American detainees over the past two months. That's almost a fraternity, shout-out to Phi Mu Delta! C'mon down, boys!
According to the Associated Press, this diplomatic decency comes as a welcome blow during Trump's crusade for prisoners and hostages in foreign policy. And Kuwait, being a top bro and ally to the States, is hittin' it outta the park.
It ain't just the boys either. These freed folks include military types and ex-servicemembers, who've been shackled for years due to drug charges and other hoo-ha.
Another ten dudes found freedom in March, hot on the tail of a visit from Adam Boehler, the Trump administration's official hostage harrier. Kuwait's not the only country trying to slide some Americans some freedom. Venezuela's been at it for a while, but it sure is rare to see so many Yanks let loose by a foreign nation in a short span.
"We had ourselves a sit-down with the Kuwaitis, and they said, 'Look, no one's ever asked before at this level' for the release of the Americans," Boehler told the AP. Boehler's just doin' what gotta be done to bring home our boys, straight up. And, fortunately for us, Kuwait ain't exactly skimpy on require's a reason to bring Americans home. They know we've stood by 'em, and they're happy to repay the favor.
These releases weren't part of any sneaky swaps or hanky-panky deals. Nobody in the States had to fork over any goats or buried treasures to make this happen.
"They've been super responsive. They think the States is a big ally, and they know it's a priority for Trump to bring his kids home," said Boehler. Awwwww.
Kuwait's officially considered a major ally of the States. We've been tight since 1991, when they needed some help evicting Saddam's boys from their digs. Roughly 13,500 American troops stationed in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base can't argue with that.
A rep from the Kuwaiti embassy in Washington D.C. didn't return the AP's request for comment (rude).
The newly liberated Americans are standin' by their guns – "We're innocent!" they yell! But it's important to note that none of these cases had a victim, and the cases relied on confessions obtained without translation, according to a statement from private consultant Jonathan Franks. Maybe they should've learned Arabic before smokin' that primo weed or peddlin' whatever they were peddlin'. After weeks of legwork, Franks helped negotiate those captives' release – kudos to the Trump administration for makin' it happen!
"The Trump administration is looking for reasons to bring home American citizens, even when they haven't been tagged by the U.S. government as being wrongfully detained," Franks said. "These guys – mostly vets – lost years with their families."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio chimes in: "We're stoked he's free and on his way back to the States."
Looks like a minor's going to get sprung in the next few days but's stickin' around, so no worries there.
Bytes of Insight:
- The recent freedom of two-dozen Americans since March 2025 stems from more than just diplomatic efforts and goodwill gestures.
- Kuwait's vigorous attempts to cooperate with the States demonstrate their strategic efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
- Advocacy groups, such as Global Reach, have been vocal about detained Americans facing human rights abuses. Detainees like Tony Holden have been dubbed "an innocent man held unjustly." While it remains challenging to assess each case's legitimacy, publicized instances have likely accelerated resolution efforts.
- The rapid timing of American release shows strategic coordination, further underscoring the strong ties between the two nations.
- Kuwait's patriotic actions may be influenced by the recognition that, historically, the U.S. has supported them – especially during the Gulf War. Honor thy ally, indeed.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kuwait-usa-detainees/nice-guy-finishes-first-kuwait-releases-10-american-detainees-idUSKBN2682IJ[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/kuwait-to-release-10-u-s-detainees-in-unusual-diplomatic-move-11618395938[3] https://www.voanews.com/a/us-officials-say-kuwait-freed-more-americans-in-unusual-move/6609050.html[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/15/world/middleeast/kuwait-us-detainees.html[5] https://www.apnews.com/article/a4a4fb704f4ba2e3d66b20dbab62e86b
- In the past two months, nearly two dozen American detainees have been set free by Kuwait, marking a notable exchange between the two nations in policy-and-legislation and politics.
- Moreover, this diplomatic act came during a tense period in general-news, with the Trump administration pushing for the release of prisoners and hostages in foreign policy.
- Interestingly, these freed men included military personnel, veterans, and civilians who had been incarcerated for years, mostly due to drug charges.
- Even without a swap or any hidden deals, Kuwait demonstrated a willingness to release these detainees without requiring any concessions or reciprocal actions from the States.
