Gulf Nations Rally Behind Kuwait Amid Iraq's New Maritime Claims
Kuwait's sovereignty is at the center of a regional dispute after Iraq submitted new maritime coordinates and an updated map to the United Nations. This action has drawn strong condemnation from Kuwait and widespread support for its position from fellow Gulf countries.
Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have all backed Kuwait. The support comes after Kuwait summoned Iraq's charge d'affaires on Saturday to formally protest Baghdad's submission, which Kuwait explicitly termed a violation of its sovereignty.
Iraq, for its part, stated that its updates were based on the lowest low-water line used to measure its territorial sea. However, Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the filing asserted claims over maritime zones and fixed maritime features, including Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij.
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that these areas are not disputed and are under Kuwait’s full sovereign authority.
Regional Responses
The unified front from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members highlights the gravity of the situation.
Oman called on Iraq to consider its historical relations with Kuwait, principles of good neighborliness, and international law.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed full solidarity with Kuwait, stating that Iraq's submission infringes upon Kuwaiti sovereignty. It urged adherence to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Saudi Arabia stated it is following developments with concern, noting that Iraq's coordinates include parts of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Divided Zone, where natural resources are shared by agreement. Riyadh affirmed that Baghdad’s coordinates violate Kuwait's sovereignty and reiterated its rejection of any claims to rights in the partitioned zone. It also stressed Iraq's necessity to abide by UN Security Council resolutions and respect Kuwait’s sovereignty, advocating for dialogue and adherence to international law.
Bahrain and the UAE also issued statements supporting Kuwait's sovereignty and respecting international conventions.
Background on the Dispute
The 216km (134-mile) land border between Iraq and Kuwait was demarcated by the UN in 1993 following Iraq's invasion, but maritime boundaries were left unresolved for the two oil producers.
A maritime border agreement was eventually reached in 2012 and subsequently ratified by both nations' legislative bodies in 2013.
However, recent developments have complicated the issue. In 2023, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court ruled that the parliament's ratification of the agreement concerning navigation in the shared Khawr Abd Allah waterway was invalid, stating that international treaties require ratification by a law passed by two-thirds of parliament members.
Kuwait has consistently maintained the necessity of completing the maritime border demarcation with Iraq in accordance with international laws and conventions, a position that has received consistent support from the Gulf Cooperation Council.