Final answer:
The primary cause of the first Gulf War was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, as Saddam Hussein sought to control Kuwait's oil and ports amidst Iraq's economic struggles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary cause of the first Gulf War (1990-1991) was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein, sought to gain control over Kuwait's oil wealth and its strategic port on the Persian Gulf. Hussein accused Kuwait of slant drilling into Iraqi oil fields, but the broader context included Iraq's economic woes following the Iran-Iraq War and a desire to overcome its debt by seizing Kuwait's prosperous oil assets. Various international actors played roles in the conflict, including the United States, which led an international coalition to liberate Kuwait in what was known as Operation Desert Storm. This action was supported by United Nations resolutions. While the conflict was punctuated by regional politics, the precise trigger was Iraq's military aggression against Kuwait.