Neutral Zone oil dispute turns political

摘要

A dispute between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over the fields they produce jointly in the Neutral Zone that lies along their borders has shut down production and shows little sign of being resolved. The argument between the two countries is ostensibly over technical issues. The larger of the Neutral Zones two main oilfields-Khafji-was shut down by Saudi Arabia in late 2014 on what were described at the time as "environmental grounds", then in May this year, the other field -Wafra- was shut following an argument with Kuwait over disagreements over the import of equipment for the field and the issuing of visas for foreign oil workers. The whole dispute has become more heated and now threatens political relations between the two Gulf allies.