Egypt closely monitors maritime border developments between Kuwait, Iraq

CAIRO – 23 February 2026: Egypt is closely following, with great interest and concern, the recent developments regarding the lists of coordinates and the map deposited with the United Nations concerning the maritime zones between Kuwait and Iraq. 

According to a statement from the Egyptan Ministry of ForeignAffairs Egypt emphasized the importance of respecting the rules and principles of international law, including the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and adhering to relevant agreements and understandings.

Egypt stressed the paramount importance of prioritizing reason and wisdom, drawing on the fraternal ties and longstanding historical relations that bind the Arab states, particularly as these developments unfold amid highly delicate and sensitive regional circumstances. 

“The region is facing grave challenges and unprecedented escalation, which require cooperation, solidarity, and a commitment to dialogue to address these issues effectively,” the statement read.

Egypt underscored the necessity of respecting Kuwait’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and of refraining from any interference with its maritime borders. 

It also affirmed its full readiness to provide all forms of support to the two countries to help bridge their differences and reach mutually agreed understandings, in accordance with international law and in a manner that enhances regional security and stability.

Egypt further expressed confidence in the ability of the two countries to resolve this matter within a framework of mutual understanding, good neighborliness, and the strong ties that unite their peoples, thereby safeguarding their shared interests and contributing to the preservation of regional stability. 

Iraq has submitted nautical charts and coordinates to the United Nations regarding its broders with Kuwait, triggering a difference between Baghdad and Sulf States, which view this move as “an infringement on Kuwait’s maritime sovereignty.”

Kuwait has filed a formal protest. However, Baghdad maintained that its actions are grounded in international law and stresses that the dispute should be resolved through dialogue, reaffirming its commitment to negotiations in communications with Oman.

While the United Nations defined the land boundary between the two countries after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, it did not fully delimit their maritime zones.