Why did Iraq invade Kuwait in 1990?

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, was driven by a combination of economic, political, and strategic motivations following the Iran-Iraq War.12

Key factors included:

• Economic Disputes: Iraq sought to cancel the massive war debt it owed to Kuwait and other gulf monarchies. Furthermore, Iraq accused Kuwait of exceeding OPEC oil-production quotas, which lowered global oil prices and reduced Iraq's income. Iraq also alleged that Kuwait was "stealing" oil by drilling horizontally into the shared Al-Rumaylah oil field.324
• Strategic Ambitions: Iraq desired greater control over the Persian Gulf and sought to secure the islands of Būbiyān and Warbah to improve its naval access at Umm Qaṣr.34
• Historical Claims and Power: Iraq asserted historical claims to Kuwaiti sovereignty dating back to the 19th century. Additionally, Saddam Hussein aimed to establish Pan-Arabism under Iraqi leadership and sought to bolster domestic support following the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq War.356

Ultimately, Iraq hoped to achieve regional hegemony, believing that the international community—specifically the United States—would not intervene.32