Saudi Foreign Ministry: We reject Iraq’s violations of our shared maritime borders with Kuwait

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was closely monitoring with “deep concern” a map and lists of coordinates submitted by Iraq to the United Nations, which it said encroach on the divided area adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti border.

In a statement, the ministry said the Iraqi submission included claims over large parts of the divided submerged area next to the onshore divided area jointly administered by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

It said the two countries share ownership of natural resources in the area under existing agreements based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.

Riyadh added that the coordinates also violate Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime areas and elevations, including Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij.

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The ministry reiterated its categorical rejection of any claims by other parties to rights in the zone. It stressed the importance of Iraq respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with international agreements and UN resolutions, in particular United Nations Security Council Resolution 833 of 1993, which demarcated the land and maritime borders between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia called for resolving disputes through reason, wisdom and dialogue, and for serious engagement in accordance with international law and the principles of good neighbourliness.

This comes after the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi chargé d’affaires and delivered a protest note due to the Iraqi maps exceeding the Kuwaiti borders.

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