Iraq and Turkey sign water infrastructure deal

Iraq and Turkey have signed an agreement to implement new water infrastructure projects in Iraq, Reuters reported on November 2nd.

The deal established a cooperation framework signed in April 2024, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Baghdad. According to Al-Monitor, a Turkish official said: “Baghdad will form a dedicated committee to invite and evaluate bids from Turkish companies.”

The first stage of the agreement includes three water harvesting dam projects and three land reclamation initiatives. Payments for the projects will be made through oil revenues from Iraq’s exports to Turkey.

The cooperation marks a significant step in addressing Iraq’s growing water challenges. Around 70 percent of Iraq’s water resources come from neighbouring countries, mainly through the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both of which originate in Turkey. The new deal aims to strengthen water management and infrastructure to mitigate the country’s worsening water scarcity.

Water scarcity has long strained relations between Iraq and Turkey, with Baghdad accusing Ankara of restricting water flow through upstream dams. The agreement calls for improved cooperation between the two neighbours as they face shared environmental challenges and growing climate pressures.

By linking infrastructure investment to oil export revenues, Iraq is seeking to use its energy trade to fund much needed water resilience projects. For Turkey, the deal opens up new business opportunities for its firms while expanding its regional influence through economic cooperation.

However, the agreement did not specify the total cost, timeline, or list of Turkish companies involved. Large-scale water projects such as dams and land reclamation work often raise environmental and social concerns, including potential disruptions to ecosystems and local livelihoods.

The deal follows years of negotiations over shared water resources. Experts say sustained collaboration will be essential to ensure equitable water use and the success of Iraq’s infrastructure plans amid the region’s increasing vulnerability to drought and climate change.

While the agreement offers a short-term solution to Iraq’s severe water shortage, it also sets a historic precedent that may cast a long shadow over the country’s future control of its strategic resources.

Reuters, Al-Monitor, Maghrebi.org