Kuwait urges Iraq to act 'seriously and responsibly' over maritime dispute

2026-02-24 - 23:22

Kuwait called on Iraq Tuesday to handle their ongoing maritime dispute "seriously and responsibly" in accordance with international law, following Baghdad's recent submission of maritime coordinates and a map to the United Nations. The Kuwaiti cabinet urged Iraq to consider "the course of historical relations" between the two neighbors while adhering to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and existing bilateral understandings. Iraq's Position The Iraqi cabinet, meeting under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, reiterated the country's "sovereign right to its lands and territorial waters" while affirming commitment to "maintaining the best relations with all neighboring countries" that guarantee mutual rights and national sovereignty. Iraq's Foreign Ministry stated Sunday that the UN submission was made "in accordance with the international law of the sea," defending the coordinates filing as a legitimate sovereign act. Historical Context The dispute has deep historical roots. Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in August 1990, triggering the 1991 Gulf War when a US-led coalition expelled Iraqi forces after seven months. Diplomatic relations were restored in 2003 following Saddam's overthrow. While the UN demarcated the land boundary between the two countries after the invasion, the maritime boundary was left unresolved, requiring bilateral negotiations between the oil-producing neighbors. Regional Implications The escalating rhetoric between the two Gulf nations comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows expressions of solidarity with Kuwait from Qatar and the UAE. The dispute tests the resilience of post-2003 Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations, which have gradually improved but remain sensitive given the historical trauma of the invasion. Both sides have expressed commitment to resolving differences through dialogue, though the competing sovereignty claims over maritime areas containing potential energy resources complicate the path to agreement.