Kuwaiti state minister for cabinet affairs, Sheikh Mohamed Abdullah al-Sabah, attends a parliament session in Kuwait City yesterday.
Agencies
Kuwait City
Kuwait’s government has asked parliament for 6.2bn dinars in additional funds for defence purchases over the next 10 years, local media and a minister said yesterday.
Kuwait is looking to upgrade its firepower amid increased security concerns in the region linked to the rise of the Islamic State militant group.
The emirate is a member of the US-led coalition that has been bombing IS targets in Syria and Iraq since last year and is also taking part in a Saudi-led coalition pounding Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.
But it is unclear if the additional funds are also linked to that.
State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Abdullah al-Sabah told reporters a bill has been sent to parliament requesting the additional funds, but he declined to specify the amount.
Local dailies Al Qabas and Al Rai reported yesterday that the amount is 6.2bn dinars.
Parliament is expected to review the request soon.
The government does not publish specific figures for its defence budget.
The Eurofighter consortium said in September Kuwait agreed to buy 28 Typhoon warplanes in a deal worth 7-8bn euros ($8-9bn).
Last month, Kuwait signed 2.5bn euros ($2.8bn) worth of fixed and provisional military deals led by the purchase of 24 Airbus-built Caracal helicopters.
Paris said Kuwait would purchase the helicopters for 1bn euros, with an option for a further six.
Further deals included provision of French light armoured vehicles and patrol boat maintenance.
Kuwait is also negotiating with the US government to buy 28 Boeing F/A-18E/F fighter jets this year, though the $3bn deal has been held up by delays in the US regulatory process.