Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Cairo is closely following developments in the maritime dispute between Kuwait and Iraq with “deep concern,” urging both sides to prioritize dialogue and act wisely.
The ministry reiterated Egypt’s full support for the principles of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and called on both countries to respect existing agreements governing maritime boundaries.
The statement comes as tensions have resurfaced over maritime borders in the northern Gulf, a sensitive area shared by the two countries.
The dispute escalated after Baghdad recently submitted updated maritime coordinates to the United Nations.
Kuwait considers this move, which includes a revised map of Iraqi maritime zones, a violation of its sovereignty over its territorial waters.
Cairo pointed to the close fraternal ties and long-standing relations among Arab states, particularly amid heightened regional tensions and security challenges.
Egypt also stressed the need to respect Kuwait’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and to ensure that its maritime boundaries are not violated.
The statement added that Egypt is confident the two countries can resolve the issue through dialogue and good neighbourly relations in a way that protects their shared interests and supports regional stability.
Decades-long dispute
The current tensions stem from the aftermath of Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait and subsequent UN resolutions. While the land border was formally demarcated by the UN in 1993, the maritime boundary has remained subject to ongoing bilateral negotiations.
At the centre of the dispute is the Khor Abdullah waterway, Iraq’s main shipping route to the Gulf. In 2012, both countries signed an agreement to regulate navigation and maritime activity in the channel.
Although the Iraqi parliament approved the agreement in 2013 and registered it with the UN, it faced strong domestic criticism in Iraq, with opponents arguing it compromised national sovereignty.
In 2023, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court ruled that the ratification law was unconstitutional because it failed to secure the required parliamentary majority.
This decision effectively annulled the law approving the 2012 agreement, reviving long-standing disputes over the legal framework governing the waterway.
Kuwait views Iraq’s later submission of new coordinates to the UN as a departure from previous agreements and an encroachment on its sovereign waters.
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