Kuwait: Kuwait has received strong backing from Gulf countries after Iraq submitted new maritime coordinates and an updated map to the United Nations, sparking tensions over sovereign waters.
Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates voiced support for Kuwait, following its move to summon Iraq’s charge d’affaires to protest Baghdad’s actions, which Kuwait called a violation of its sovereignty. Iraq, however, said the updated coordinates were based on the lowest low-water line used to measure its territorial sea.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said the submission included claims over maritime areas and features, such as Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij, which are firmly under Kuwait’s control.
Oman urged Iraq to respect historical ties with Kuwait, follow principles of good neighborliness, and adhere to international law. Qatar expressed ‘full solidarity’ with Kuwait and stressed the importance of abiding by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
المملكة العربية السعودية تؤكد أن قوائم الإحداثيات والخارطة المودعة من قبل العراق لدى الأمم المتحدة تنتهك سيادة الكويت على مناطقها البحرية ومرتفعاتها المائية مثل (فشت القيد) و(فشت العيج)
– أكدت رفضها القاطع لأي ادعاءات بوجود حقوق لأي طرف آخر في المنطقة المغمورة المقسومة المحاذية… pic.twitter.com/rF3Z5YariI
— كونا KUNA (@kuna_ar) February 23, 2026
Saudi Arabia expressed concern, noting that Iraq’s coordinates overlap with the Saudi-Kuwaiti Divided Zone, where natural resources are jointly shared. Riyadh called on Iraq to respect Kuwait’s sovereignty, UN Security Council resolutions, and existing agreements, emphasizing dialogue and adherence to international law. Bahrain and the UAE also reaffirmed their support for Kuwait, underlining respect for international conventions.
The Kuwait-Iraq border spans 216 km (134 miles) and was demarcated by the UN in 1993 after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. However, maritime boundaries were not fully defined, leaving room for negotiation. In 2012, both nations reached a maritime border agreement, ratified in 2013.
Tensions resurfaced in 2023 when Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court ruled that parliament’s ratification of the navigation agreement in the Khawr Abd Allah waterway was invalid, citing procedural issues.
Kuwait has repeatedly emphasized the need to complete maritime demarcation in line with international law, a position supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
