Gulf countries back Kuwait’s sovereignty after Iraq draws new boundaries | News
Gulf Nations Rally Behind Kuwait Following Iraq’s Maritime Claims
Gulf countries have expressed their unwavering support for Kuwait’s sovereignty after Iraq submitted updated maritime coordinates and a new map to the United Nations. Nations including Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have united in backing Kuwait amid rising tensions over the maritime dispute.
Iraq’s recent submission has drawn criticism from Kuwait, which summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires on Saturday to protest what it deems a violation of its territorial integrity. Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that the filing asserts claims over maritime zones and features such as Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij, maintaining that these areas fall entirely under Kuwait’s authority and are not subject to dispute.
While Iraq claims that the updates were based on measurements of its territorial sea, Oman has urged Baghdad to consider its historical relations with Kuwait and adhere to principles of good neighborliness and international law. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly voiced full solidarity with Kuwait, condemning Iraq’s submission as an infringement on its sovereignty and advocating for compliance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Saudi Arabia has expressed deep concern regarding the situation, particularly as the coordinates in question encroach upon the Saudi-Kuwaiti Divided Zone, which is shared by the two nations under existing agreements. Riyadh has firmly rejected any claims from other parties concerning rights in this partitioned zone and reiterated the need for Iraq to respect UN Security Council resolutions and Kuwait’s sovereignty.
Both Bahrain and the UAE have released statements affirming their support for Kuwait and respect for international conventions.
The maritime boundary dispute has its roots in the 216-kilometer (134-mile) border established by the UN in 1993 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. However, this demarcation did not extend to maritime boundaries, which were left for the two nations to resolve independently. A maritime border agreement was reached in 2012 and ratified by both countries in 2013, yet complications arose in 2023 when Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court invalidated the parliamentary ratification of the navigation agreement concerning the shared Khawr Abd Allah waterway.
Kuwait continues to advocate for the completion of maritime boundary demarcation with Iraq according to international laws, a position supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
