Egypt is following with “great interest and concern” the maritime border issue between Kuwait and Iraq, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, as regional tensions rise over coordinates and maps deposited by Baghdad at the United Nations.
The Egyptian ministry emphasised in a statement the importance of adhering to the rules and principles of international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Cairo stressed the necessity of respecting Kuwaiti sovereignty and territorial integrity, expressing its readiness to provide support to both nations to reach a consensus that enhances regional security and stability.
The statement follows a call from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi on Monday for Iraq to withdraw the list of coordinates and the map deposited with the UN. Al-Budaiwi alleged the filing contained claims that infringe upon Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime zones and water heights, including Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Ayj.
Al-Budaiwi noted the importance of “resorting to the rules and principles of international law” and the 1982 UNCLOS, in line with bilateral understandings and memorandums of understanding between the two countries. He reaffirmed the GCC’s “firm positions and previous decisions” regarding Iraq’s respect for Kuwait’s sovereignty, as stated in the final communique of the 46th session of the Supreme Council of GCC leaders.
The Secretary General added that while the GCC and Iraq share “deep-rooted historical relations,” such claims do not contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation. He expressed hope that Baghdad would “review and withdraw” the filing to build mutual trust and support regional stability.
The diplomatic friction escalated on Sunday when the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iraqi charge d’affaires, Zayed Abbas Shanshal, to hand over an official protest note. Kuwaiti Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Rahim al-Dihani delivered the protest, stating that the Iraqi UN filing included claims over maritime areas and “stable and settled” features that had not previously been subject to dispute between the two nations.
The Kuwaiti ministry urged Iraq to consider the historical relations between the two countries and to deal “seriously and responsibly” with the matter in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements.
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the move in a responsive statement, asserting that the government’s Decision No. 266 of 2025 was the basis for the maritime map filing. Baghdad stated the decision was grounded in Iraqi laws and the 1982 UNCLOS.
The Iraqi ministry added that the filing aimed to “collect and complete previous legal procedures” related to Iraq’s maritime zones into a single document supported by precise coordinates. It argued the move accounted for developments in the international law of the sea, including the expansion of coastal state jurisdiction. Iraq further stressed that defining its maritime zones is a “sovereign matter” in which no other state has the right to interfere, while reiterating its respect for the principles of international law.
