WASHINGTON – In a significant diplomatic gesture, Kuwait has freed 10 more American detainees, raising the total number of released prisoners to nearly two dozen in the last two months, according to U.S. officials. This development is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to prioritize hostage and detainee matters in its foreign policy agenda.
The chain of pardons involves 23 Americans, a move interpreted as a goodwill gesture by the Middle Eastern ally. The former prisoners, who include both men and women, consist of military contractors and veterans who had been detained for years on charges related to drugs and other offenses. Among them is a detainee whose advocates claim was coerced to sign a false confession under duress, involving threats to his family.
These most recent releases follow Kuwait’s decision in March to free another group of American detainees shortly after Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s envoy for hostage affairs, made a diplomatic visit. Though other countries have freed numerous Americans over the years, Kuwait’s swift action to release so many in such a concentrated period is notably unusual.
Discussing the breakthrough, Boehler revealed to the media, “We flew out, we sat down with the Kuwaitis, and they said, ‘Listen, no one’s ever asked before at this level’ for the release of the Americans.” Importantly, these releases were not contingent upon a prisoner swap or any reciprocal concessions by the U.S.
Acknowledging Kuwait’s responsiveness, Boehler remarked, “Their view is the United States is a huge ally. They know it’s a priority for President Trump to bring Americans home. It reflects the Kuwaiti appreciation for America’s historical support.”
Kuwait holds a distinguished status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States, sharing a robust military alliance since the Gulf War in 1991. Currently, approximately 13,500 American troops are stationed at two bases in Kuwait. Despite this strong alliance, American contractors have frequently found themselves incarcerated on drug-related accusations, in some instances enduring imprisonment for extended periods.
Families of these detainees have often voiced complaints of mistreatment while their loved ones were behind bars in Kuwait, a nation with strict drug and alcohol laws. Some have claimed the charges were manipulated by local police, a claim not publicly acknowledged by the Kuwaiti authorities, who are governed by a hereditary monarchy.
The Kuwaiti embassy’s spokesperson in Washington did not immediately provide comments on the release of these prisoners. However, Jonathan Franks, a private consultant engaged in advocating for their release, noted that the American detainees involved maintain their innocence. He criticized the reliance on confessions extracted in Arabic without translation, emphasizing that these cases lacked identifiable victims.
Franks commended the administration for seeking opportunities to bring Americans home, even when they aren’t officially listed as wrongfully detained. “These Americans, mostly veterans, lost years with their families,” he noted, highlighting the loss experienced by the detainees and their families.
Among those set free was Tony Holden, an HVAC technician and defense contractor who was working at Camp Arifjan when he was arrested in November 2022. Supporters argue Holden was unfairly targeted by corrupt officials motivated by personal gain. His family asserts he was subjected to intimidation, coerced into a confession, yet he tested negative for drug use.
Expressing relief over Holden’s release, Stacia George of Global Reach, an organization that supported his case, stated, “Tony is an innocent man who was detained for 902 days, and today he can finally begin anew with his family.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also celebrated Holden’s release, marking it as a moment of triumph.
Furthermore, the U.S. has disclosed that a minor will soon be released but is expected to remain in Kuwait. This ongoing process highlights the continued diplomatic efforts to resolve issues concerning Americans detained abroad.