Regional powers urge dialogue amid Kuwait–Iraq sea dispute

Several Gulf countries have voiced support for Kuwait amid renewed tensions with Iraq over maritime boundaries in the northern Gulf.

The dispute escalated after Baghdad submitted new maritime coordinates and a map to the United Nations, claiming areas that Kuwait considers part of its territorial waters, including the Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij shoals. 

Iraq maintains that its submission complies with international law and reflects its legitimate maritime rights, while also noting that Kuwait filed its own maps with the UN in 2014 without prior consultation.

Neighbouring states, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, issued statements backing Kuwait and calling for respect for international agreements. Saudi Arabia noted that parts of Iraq’s new submission could also affect a shared Saudi-Kuwaiti maritime zone.

The disagreement also relates to long-standing issues surrounding the Khor Abdullah waterway and nearby shared areas. A 2012 navigation agreement was overturned by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court in 2023 following legal challenges, adding to the uncertainty.

Other regional actors, including Egypt, have urged both sides to pursue dialogue and adhere to international law to preserve stability in the Gulf.

The episode highlights lingering maritime disputes in the region, where access to waterways and offshore resources remains strategically sensitive.