As Iraq seeks to build stronger ties with its Gulf neighbours, long-standing – but recently rekindled – tensions with Kuwait over maritime boundaries are testing the limits of regional rapprochement. The disagreement over the Khor Abdullah waterway, a strategic shipping route between the two countries, has resurfaced. It is being used by nationalist voices in Iraq to question the country’s regional partnerships. In the Gulf, the dispute has revived longstanding concerns about Iraq’s commitment to previous agreements and its broader approach to Gulf relations.
The latest iteration of this dispute comes at a time of escalating regional conflicts. A relatively stable Iraq has been actively pursuing economic cooperation with Gulf states and positioning itself as a reliable partner. Yet the fallout from the dispute could stall this momentum, reinforcing hesitations from Gulf countries about Iraq’s political direction and strategic priorities.
This webinar, part of the Iraq Initiative, will explore key questions, including:
- What is driving the current escalation of the Iraq–Kuwait maritime dispute and what does this tension mean for Iraq’s wider efforts to strengthen ties with the GCC?
- How are Gulf states likely to view Iraq’s role in the region in light of this dispute?
- What steps can be taken to prevent further deterioration and support a more constructive path forward for Iraq–Kuwait and Iraq-Gulf relations?
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