Kuwait, Iraq Attempt to Settle Border Dispute

Iraq and Kuwait will strive to reach a clear agreement on defining their borders, including a controversial Gulf maritime zone, according to their foreign ministries.

In 1993, three years after Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, the UN established the de facto land and maritime borders between the two neighbors.

The land border between Iraq and Kuwait has historically been acknowledged by those authorities, however there is still contention over the water border.

Baghdad is determined that the delineation must provide it unlimited access to the Gulf waters since they are essential to its economy and oil exports.

Kuwaiti coastguards frequently jail Iraqi fishermen and impound their vessels due to the ongoing disagreement for "illegally" entering Kuwaiti sovereign waters.

Salem Al-Sabah, the counterpart from Kuwait, and the Iraqi foreign minister Fuad Hussein met on Sunday in Baghdad, and according to Fuad Hussein, "the emphasis was placed on resolving the border issues" during their discussions.

He informed reporters that multiple technical groups will be used to "continue the border talks."

On August 14, a meeting of the negotiations' legal committee will take place in Baghdad.

Sabah said there was "complete consensus" between Kuwait and Iraq to "resolve outstanding problems between the two countries, particularly the demarcation of maritime boundaries".

In order to boost regional economic cooperation and stop the flow of drugs, Iraq's administration, led by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, who was chosen by pro-Iran groups, is attempting to establish tighter connections with the monarchies of the Arab Gulf.

Sabah also met with Mohammed al-Halbusi, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, and Sudani on Sunday.

According to the official news agency of Kuwait, KUNA, Sabah and Halbusi talked about defining the maritime border between the two nations.

Baghdad paid its neighbor the last of more over $52 billion in war reparations in 2021.

In August 1990, Saddam's troops invaded the oil-rich nation of Kuwait and seized it. Seven months later, an international coalition led by the United States was able to drive them out.