The friendship between Britain and Kuwait goes back more than 200 years. It was formalised in 1841 with the signing of the first written agreement between the two countries, the Anglo-Kuwaiti Maritime Truce, designed to counter piracy in the region. In the light of Kuwait's strategic location, Sheikh Mubarak The Great decided that a formal agreement with the British would be the best way to preserve Kuwait’s independence.

Britain was keen to consolidate its presence in the region. Thus mutual interests were served with the signing of the 1899 Anglo-Kuwaiti Treaty of Friendship. Sheikh Mubarak had secured Britain's guarantee of Kuwait's territorial integrity and independence. The treaty marked the beginning of the special defence relationship between Britain and Kuwait.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Britain confirmed that Kuwait was a British Protectorate, and in the Second World War Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jabir allowed Britain to station aircraft in Kuwait to counter the interests of the axis countries in Iraq. The Anglo-Kuwaiti Friendship Agreement remained in place for 62 years, and was ended at the request of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem on 19 June 1961, when Kuwait gained its independence.

That same year Britain came to Kuwait’s defence when the Iraqi leader General Qassim massed troops on the border. Britain again sent forces to the region after the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The British forces played a vital role in the liberation of Kuwait by the coalition in 1991. The UK/Kuwait Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February 1992. It builds on the close historical ties and provides a modern basis for the traditionally strong defence relationship.