In a recent development, Kuwait’s Council of Ministers voiced concerns on Monday about the ruling of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court on a bilateral maritime navigation agreement. The court’s verdict, according to Kuwaiti authorities, contains “false historical claims.”
KUNA, Kuwait’s state news agency, stated that the cabinet reviewed the statement of the annual coordination meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which took place this past Sunday. The meeting discussed the current developments with Iraq.
Ahmad Al-Bakr, Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs, handed over a protest note to the Iraqi ambassador in Baghdad last Friday. The protest revolved around the verdict issued by the Iraqi Federal Court about the maritime navigation treaty in the Khor Abdullah waterway.
This accord, which aimed at regulating maritime navigation, had been ratified by both the Iraqi Parliament and the Kuwaiti National Assembly. Moreover, it was duly deposited with the United Nations for official recognition.
However, the Iraqi Federal Court ruled earlier this month that the law ratifying the agreement was unconstitutional. The court emphasized that its decision was based on a “violation” of a constitutional provision that governs the ratification of international treaties and agreements.
Reacting to this, the GCC’s Foreign Ministers Council has urged Iraq to take urgent and serious steps to address the “negative implications” arising from the 2012 agreement’s court ruling.
The Khor Abdullah waterway has been a historic point of contention between Iraq and Kuwait. The maritime navigation agreement, established in 2012, was an attempt by both nations to set terms for the waterway’s usage and ensure smooth bilateral trade. The Gulf region, with its intricate geopolitical ties, sees such agreements as not only essential for economic reasons but also as tools to maintain regional stability. The Iraqi Federal Court’s recent verdict, questioning the very foundation of this agreement, has sparked concerns in Kuwait and among other GCC nations about the potential implications for regional harmony
