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Saudi Arabia and Gulf Allies Rally Behind Kuwait in Escalating Maritime Border Dispute with Iraq
Riyadh voices serious concerns after Baghdad’s submission of maritime claims to the United Nations, reaffirming support for Kuwait’s sovereignty and urging adherence to international law
Saudi Arabia has formally declared its support for Kuwait in a widening maritime border dispute with Iraq, asserting that Baghdad’s recent submission of a map and geographic coordinates to the United Nations encroaches on Kuwaiti waters and raises serious concerns over regional maritime boundaries.
The dispute erupted after Iraq lodged its claims for portions of the Persian Gulf, including areas that Kuwait maintains fall within its sovereign territory, notably around the Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij shoals and the strategically significant Khor Abdullah waterway.
Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, have joined Kuwait in pressing for respect for international law and existing agreements governing maritime limits.
Saudi officials have underscored that the coordinates submitted by Baghdad not only challenge Kuwait’s claims but also appear to impinge on a joint Saudi-Kuwaiti maritime zone, reinforcing Riyadh’s position that the dispute has broader implications for Gulf unity and maritime governance.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry has publicly rejected Iraq’s interpretation of the boundary, reaffirming that the areas in question lie within its sovereign waters.
Gulf Cooperation Council partners, such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, have expressed solidarity with Kuwait’s stance, calling on all parties to pursue peaceful resolution through established legal frameworks.
The backdrop to the current tensions is the longstanding contention over the Khor Abdullah waterway, which has been subject to multiple agreements and legal challenges over the past decade.
In 2012, Iraq and Kuwait agreed on a framework governing navigation in the channel, but the pact was annulled by Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court in 2023 on procedural grounds, prompting renewed diplomatic friction.
Gulf Arab states have repeatedly emphasised the importance of finalising maritime boundary demarcation beyond Marker 162 in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international legal principles.
Saudi Arabia’s position aligns with previous collective Gulf pronouncements rejecting any infringement on Kuwaiti sovereignty and urging compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions delineating the land and sea border.
Iraqi officials have defended their submission to the United Nations as a lawful expression of Baghdad’s maritime rights, while also stressing commitment to international law.
Iraq’s foreign minister has highlighted that Kuwait previously deposited its own maps with the United Nations without bilateral consultation.
The competing claims underscore persistent challenges in Iraq-Kuwait relations, despite broader diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation between the neighbouring states.
Regional analysts note that the dispute could test Gulf Cooperation Council cohesion and may require renewed high-level negotiations to reconcile differing interpretations of maritime jurisdiction and protect long-term stability in the northern Arabian Gulf.
The dispute erupted after Iraq lodged its claims for portions of the Persian Gulf, including areas that Kuwait maintains fall within its sovereign territory, notably around the Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij shoals and the strategically significant Khor Abdullah waterway.
Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, have joined Kuwait in pressing for respect for international law and existing agreements governing maritime limits.
Saudi officials have underscored that the coordinates submitted by Baghdad not only challenge Kuwait’s claims but also appear to impinge on a joint Saudi-Kuwaiti maritime zone, reinforcing Riyadh’s position that the dispute has broader implications for Gulf unity and maritime governance.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry has publicly rejected Iraq’s interpretation of the boundary, reaffirming that the areas in question lie within its sovereign waters.
Gulf Cooperation Council partners, such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, have expressed solidarity with Kuwait’s stance, calling on all parties to pursue peaceful resolution through established legal frameworks.
The backdrop to the current tensions is the longstanding contention over the Khor Abdullah waterway, which has been subject to multiple agreements and legal challenges over the past decade.
In 2012, Iraq and Kuwait agreed on a framework governing navigation in the channel, but the pact was annulled by Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court in 2023 on procedural grounds, prompting renewed diplomatic friction.
Gulf Arab states have repeatedly emphasised the importance of finalising maritime boundary demarcation beyond Marker 162 in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international legal principles.
Saudi Arabia’s position aligns with previous collective Gulf pronouncements rejecting any infringement on Kuwaiti sovereignty and urging compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions delineating the land and sea border.
Iraqi officials have defended their submission to the United Nations as a lawful expression of Baghdad’s maritime rights, while also stressing commitment to international law.
Iraq’s foreign minister has highlighted that Kuwait previously deposited its own maps with the United Nations without bilateral consultation.
The competing claims underscore persistent challenges in Iraq-Kuwait relations, despite broader diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation between the neighbouring states.
Regional analysts note that the dispute could test Gulf Cooperation Council cohesion and may require renewed high-level negotiations to reconcile differing interpretations of maritime jurisdiction and protect long-term stability in the northern Arabian Gulf.
