Qatar, UAE back Kuwait after Iraq submits maritime coordinates to UN

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have declared their full support for Kuwait's maritime sovereignty after Iraq submitted new maritime coordinates and an updated map to the United Nations, prompting a diplomatic protest from Kuwait City. The Gulf nations' statements Monday underscore regional solidarity with Kuwait as it challenges what it terms an infringement on its territorial rights.

Qatar's Statement

"The State of Qatar announces its full solidarity with the sisterly State of Kuwait, affirming that it is following the coordinates lists and map submitted by the sisterly Republic of Iraq to the United Nations, which infringe upon the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait over its maritime areas and its fixed and stable maritime elevations in relation to the Republic of Iraq, such as Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij," Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

UAE's Position

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its full support for Kuwait's legitimate rights while voicing concern over Iraq's submission. The ministry called for addressing the matter "in accordance with the principles of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS), as well as in line with existing bilateral understandings, agreements and memoranda of understanding." The UAE also emphasized that Iraq should take into account the "fraternal and historic ties that bind the two countries and their peoples."

Kuwait's Protest

Kuwait summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires Saturday to protest Baghdad's UN submission, which it said violated its sovereignty over maritime areas and fixed features including Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij. The Foreign Ministry stressed these areas are "not subject to dispute and fall under Kuwait's full sovereignty." The coordinates filing appears to challenge longstanding understandings between the two neighbors regarding maritime boundaries in the northern Persian Gulf.

Regional Implications

The unified Gulf response reflects the importance Arab monarchies place on territorial sovereignty and their commitment to collective defense mechanisms. While Qatar and the UAE have themselves experienced regional tensions in recent years, both have rallied behind Kuwait, which has traditionally played a mediating role in Gulf disputes. The incident adds a new layer of complexity to Iraq's relations with its Gulf neighbors as Baghdad seeks to balance its regional relationships amid ongoing political and economic challenges.