Qatar and Kuwait are expected to contribute patrol ships to the US-initiated International Maritime Security Building Alliance (IMSC) in the Middle East.

"Qatar and Kuwait have announced they will join the alliance, it is only a matter of time," said Colonel John Conklin, IMSC chief of staff, today. However, US officials did not specify the number of warships and soldiers the two Middle Eastern nations would contribute.

The United States formed an alliance in June and placed its headquarters in Bahrain, calling on allies to take warships to joint patrol, escorting cargo ships in the Gulf to deal with mysterious raids in the region. IMSC's operating areas include the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Washington hopes to gather powerful forces from many allied nations in Europe and Asia, but only Albania, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agree. deployment of weapons.

Most European countries are on a separate patrol mission, fearing their presence in ISMC will heighten US-Iranian tensions. "As far as I know, no country has joined the French-led coalition. They have tried for a while but not really successful," Colonel Conklin added.

Location of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Graphics: NY Times.