By Micah Jonah, February 23, 2026
Kuwait has received backing from Gulf countries after Iraq submitted updated maritime coordinates and a new map to the United Nations, which Kuwait called a violation of its sovereignty.
Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates expressed solidarity with Kuwait, urging Iraq to respect international law and good neighbourliness. Oman emphasized maintaining historical and fraternal relations, while Qatar highlighted adherence to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Saudi Arabia also noted that Iraq’s submission encroached on parts of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Divided Zone, where natural resources are jointly managed, and reaffirmed Kuwait’s sovereignty. Bahrain and the UAE similarly called for respect for international conventions and Kuwait’s maritime rights.
The land border between Iraq and Kuwait, measuring 216 km (134 miles), was demarcated by the UN in 1993 after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, but maritime
boundaries remained unresolved. A maritime agreement was reached in 2012 and ratified in 2013, though Iraq’s 2023 Federal Supreme Court later invalidated parliamentary ratification concerning the Khawr Abd Allah waterway.
Kuwait insists on completing the maritime border demarcation in line with international laws, a stance supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
