RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected Iraq’s recent submission to the UN on new maritime borders, which Riyadh says infringes on Kuwait’s territory.
Iraq had reportedly submitted new geographic coordinates in January and February to the UN delineating the nation’s maritime boundaries.
In a statement on X on Monday, the Kingdom’s ministry said the Iraqi filing included changes that extend to Khor Abdullah and parts of the submerged area adjacent to the divided Saudi–Kuwaiti Neutral Zone.
This is an area where the Kingdom shares natural resource ownership with Kuwait under binding bilateral agreements. The statement added that the amendments also impacted Kuwait’s maritime areas and fixed water elevations.
“The Kingdom categorically rejects any claims suggesting the existence of rights for any party in the submerged area beyond the boundaries agreed upon between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” the ministry said.
It stressed that existing arrangements are grounded in bilateral accords and consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Riyadh further emphasized the importance of Iraq’s commitment to respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
And to adhere to relevant UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 833 (1993), which demarcated the land and maritime boundaries between Kuwait and Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War.
Qatar offered its support, saying the coordinates lists and map submitted by Iraq infringed on Kuwait’s sovereignty, in a statement on Sunday by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry “also voiced its hope that the rules and principles of international law, and what is stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, will be taken into consideration.”
The UAE also expressed solidarity with Kuwait, reiterating its support for the country “against any infringement on its sovereignty or national interests.” Bahrain and Oman also expressed solidarity with Kuwait rejecting any encroachment on its sovereignty.
Egypt said it is closely monitoring developments concerning the maritime border between Kuwait and Iraq, and emphasized the importance of respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Jordan also echoed support for Kuwait's sovereignty over its territories and maritime areas.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council urged Iraq to withdraw its submission to the United Nations regarding the maritime border with Kuwait.
On Saturday, Kuwait summoned Iraq’s charge d’affaires over the new boundaries that includes the Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij areas, which it claims has never been in dispute.
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has said that the submission was in line with international law.
While the UN demarcated the land boundary between Iraq and Kuwait after Iraq’s 1990 invasion of its southern neighbor, certain aspects of the maritime delimitation have remained sensitive and are expected to be addressed through bilateral negotiations.
