W
ASHINGTON — In a significant act of goodwill, Kuwait has announced the release of several American detainees, including military veterans and contractors who had been incarcerated for lengthy periods due to drug-related offenses. This announcement was confirmed by a spokesperson for the detainees in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The decision to release these individuals comes on the heels of a recent diplomatic visit to the region by Adam Boehler, who served as the top hostage envoy during the Trump administration. This move aligns with the ongoing efforts of the U.S. government to secure the safe return of American citizens detained abroad.

Six of the released detainees flew from Kuwait to New York, accompanied by Jonathan Franks, a private consultant specializing in cases involving American hostages and detainees. Franks had traveled to Kuwait to assist in negotiating their freedom.

“My clients and their families express their gratitude to the Kuwaiti government for this compassionate act,” Franks stated in his remarks.

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He further mentioned that his clients maintain their innocence and indicated that additional Americans he represents are expected to be released by Kuwait soon.

The U.S. State Department has not yet provided a response regarding this situation, and the identities of those released remain undisclosed at this point.

Kuwait, a small but affluent nation bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, is recognized as a key non-NATO ally of the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reaffirmed this partnership, emphasizing that the U.S. “remains steadfast in its support for Kuwait’s sovereignty and the well-being of its people.”

The military alliance between the two nations has been robust since the U.S.-led Gulf War in 1991, aimed at expelling Iraqi forces after Saddam Hussein’s invasion. Currently, around 13,500 American troops are stationed in Kuwait, primarily at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base.

Nevertheless, Kuwait has also been known to detain numerous American military contractors on drug-related charges, with some enduring years of imprisonment. Families of these detainees have reported instances of mistreatment in a country that enforces strict drug laws and has severe prohibitions against alcohol consumption.

Critics have raised concerns about the alleged practices of Kuwaiti law enforcement in fabricating charges and evidence against detainees—claims that the authoritarian regime has never publicly acknowledged.

The State Department warns travelers that drug offenses in Kuwait can lead to lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty. While defense cooperation agreements between the U.S. and Kuwait likely ensure that American troops are subject to U.S. laws, this may not apply to contractors.

Since President Donald Trump’s administration, there have been successful efforts to secure the release of American citizens, including teacher Marc Fogel, who was freed in a prisoner exchange with Russia, alongside another U.S. citizen released from Belarus.

The individuals released on Wednesday were not classified by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained. This designation typically applies to a specific group of Americans imprisoned overseas and usually ensures their cases are handled by the administration’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the office responsible for negotiating their release.

Nonetheless, advocates for those held abroad are hopeful that the Trump administration will adopt a more flexible approach, potentially leading to the release of individuals not deemed wrongfully detained.

“The unfortunate truth is that these Americans have suffered in prison for years due to a misguided policy that, before President Trump’s administration, effectively ignored Americans abroad who were not classified as wrongfully detained,” Franks noted in his statement.