British military assistance to the Persian Gulf

This file concerns the extent of possible British military assistance to Gulf States in the light of the Iran-Iraq War. It contains correspondence and briefing papers on:

• The assistance UK forces might be able to offer, including an assessment of the vulnerabilities of each of the Gulf States
• Differences between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the terms of assistance
• The naval operations under the Armilla patrol
• The trade-off between the UK's NATO commitments, and activities outside the NATO area, in the light of ‘increasing Soviet adventurism’
• Proposed responses from the Foreign Secretary to a parliamentary question from Michael Latham MP concerning UK treaty commitments to defend Arab League members
• The threat to regional stability posed by the ‘Iranian invasion of Iraq’
• A letter from the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to the Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed concerning the extent of UK military assistance to Oman, including loaned service personnel (LSP)
• A meeting between the Minister of State Douglas Hurd, and Sultan Qaboos and Qais Abdul Munim Al Zawawi concerning defence relations
• The authorised terms of a commitment for J C Moberly to give to the UAE in 1980
• Arguments against the ‘full cost doctrine’, exemplified by LSP and student fees, outlined by H D A C Miers
• Parliamentary questions put to the Prime Minister concerning Afghanistan and the Gulf
• A record of the meeting in Washington, DC between the Prime Minister and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and a summary of statements made by Mrs Thatcher in the US concerning a proposed rapid reaction force
• A summary of potential actions the UK might take in response to Iranian retaliation against Iraqi interference with its oil exports
• A visit to the UAE by Minister of State Richard Luce
• The possibility of rendering assistance to the UAE against Iranian attack in cooperation with Jordan
• A request from Kuwait for information concerning defence against Exocet missiles
• A report by the Official Group on Military Training Assistance Funds.