Allies Pledge 88% of U.S. Gulf Costs for 1990

Contributions from six allied nations will cover 88% of the nearly $11.1 billion spent by the United States during 1990 on the Persian Gulf military buildup, the White House said Wednesday.

Of the total U.S. costs incurred last year, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pledged to contribute a combined 62%; Germany, Japan and Korea have committed to paying nearly 26%.

According to the White House, the net cost to the United States of the 1990 buildup will be $1.3 billion once all pledged contributions are collected, with the foreign nations donating a total of $9.7 billion.

The figures cover the period from Aug. 2, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, through Dec. 31. They do not reflect the much greater costs of carrying out the war, which began Jan. 17.

More than 70% of the foreign commitments involve cash payments; the remainder include contributions of specific goods sought by the U.S. Central Command.

The White House said these payments-in-kind include food, fuel, water, facilities and transportation from Persian Gulf allies. Also counted are Japanese purchases of U.S.-made computers, vehicles and construction equipment, and German contributions of chemical detection vehicles and heavy equipment transportation vehicles.

As of Feb. 7, the White House said, $7.1 billion of the $9.7 billion in foreign commitments had been received, including $5.3 billion in cash.