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Kuwait Rejects Iranian ‘Claims, Measures’ Regarding Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Rejects Iranian ‘Claims, Measures’ Regarding Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Durra gas field is located within the maritime areas of Kuwait (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait has officially declared its rejection of Iranian “claims and measures” planned for the rich offshore “Durra” gas field

Kuwait Oil Minister Saad Al-Barrak said his country “categorically and totally” rejected Iranian procedures and claims on the Durra offshore gas field in the neutral zone connecting Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Only Kuwait and Saudi Arabia own “exclusive rights” to the field, the minister said in a statement.

Kuwait was “surprised” by Tehran’s plans and intentions, which “contravene the basic principles of international relations”, the minister underlined.

The Arab Gulf country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that the maritime area where the Durra gas field is located falls within Kuwait’s territorial waters.

The natural resources in this area are jointly shared between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with both countries having exclusive rights to the natural resources in the Durra field, affirmed the ministry.

A source at the ministry stated on Monday that Kuwait has re-invited the Iranian side to initiate talks for demarcating maritime borders.

On March 21, 2022, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to develop the Durra field, aiming to exploit its rich gas reserves for daily production of one billion standard cubic feet of natural gas and 84,000 barrels of condensates, which will be shared between the two countries.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, inked the deal with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

The two agreed on setting up Al-Khafji Joint Operations Co., a joint venture (JV) between Aramco Gulf Operations Co. and Kuwait Gulf Oil Co. (KGOC).

They also agreed to select a consultant to conduct the engineering studies necessary to develop the field, as per the best techniques and topnotch technologies and practices that take into account safety, health and environmental preservation, as well as the development of the most efficient and effective engineering designs in terms of capital and operations.

For its part, Iran claimed that the document signed between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to develop the Durra gas field was “illegal” since Tehran also has a share in the field and must be included in any action to operate and develop the field.

 

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Gulf

Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
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Kuwaiti Emir Begins Official Visit to France to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 
The Emir of Kuwait departs the country, heading to Paris on an official visit (KUNA) 

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, arrived in Paris on Sunday for his first official visit to France since assuming office last December. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes senior Kuwaiti government officials.

The visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the region, amid escalating tensions, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the fallout from military strikes between Iran and Israel.

In a statement issued by the Élysée Palace, the French presidency said the visit reflects a shared desire to deepen bilateral cooperation across diplomatic, defense, and economic spheres. The trip also coincides with Kuwait’s current presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to the statement, the Emir will meet President Emmanuel Macron for a working lunch on Monday. He will also attend France’s annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya described the visit as a “strategic milestone” to strengthen partnership in light of rapidly evolving regional and global dynamics. He confirmed that the Emir’s agenda includes signing agreements and memorandums of understanding covering infrastructure, education, defense, and culture.

Historical Relations

Diplomatic ties between Kuwait and France date back to 1961, when Paris formally recognized Kuwaiti independence. In 1967, the two countries exchanged ambassadors. Over the decades, the relationship has seen several high-profile visits, including Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al Sabah’s trip to Paris in 1989 and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah’s meeting with President Jacques Chirac in 2006.

Ministerial engagements have also continued, with former Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid attending the Middle East Peace Conference in 2017. More recently, French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Kuwait in April to sign new bilateral agreements.

Economic and Defense Partnership

France is one of Kuwait’s leading economic partners. French companies account for nearly 50% of European investments in the country and employ over 2,100 people in sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and consumer goods.

On defense, Kuwait and France maintain a military cooperation agreement first signed in August 1992 and renewed in 2009, which provides for mutual assistance if Kuwait faces external aggression. France’s participation in the 1991 coalition to liberate Kuwait cemented its standing as a key military ally.

Last month, Kuwait’s embassy in Paris took part in the “Gulf Vision 2025” conference hosted under Macron’s patronage to forge broader economic partnerships between France and the GCC states.