According to experts, the economic partnership between Iraq and Turkey exceeds $20 billion annually. However, it has not yet been used as leverage to protect national interests. Experts warn that millions of Iraqis are threatened with thirst, urging the government to take a firmer and more decisive stance towards Ankara, following repeated breaches and unfulfilled commitments regarding water issues. The final agreement is expected to be signed in Baghdad soon, paving the way for attracting major Turkish companies to implement extensive irrigation projects and build dams for water harvesting, aiming to enhance water security and support the agricultural sector in Iraq.
Former MP Talal al-Zobaie said in an interview with ‘Sputnik’: “It can be employed in the water issue with neighboring countries, but it is not used sufficiently,” noting that “the weakness of foreign political decision-making has led these countries to deal with Iraq from a position of strength, not equality.” According to al-Zobaie, Iraq’s weak diplomatic position has placed the country in a receiving position, unable to impose its conditions or protect its water interests. He emphasizes that the coming stage requires a stronger and clearer foreign policy based on mutual interests and balanced respect, as the water issue has become a sovereign matter affecting Iraq’s national and food security.
This statement was made by the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Diab Abdullah, last Saturday, stressing the importance of water cooperation between the two countries to ensure the continuation of supplies and regulate the levels of dams and vital water courses. Shihab, in an interview with ‘Sputnik,’ stated: “Regarding the release of water to Iraq, this requires a more stringent stance from the Iraqi side,” explaining that “the water issue cannot tolerate complacency, as millions of Iraqis are threatened with thirst and drought if the current situation persists.”
He added: “The Iraqi government is required to take well-studied and firm actions by activating political and economic pressure tools, especially in the fields of import, services, and trade exchange with Turkey, considering them real tools that can be employed to protect Iraq’s water security.” Iraq has been suffering for years from a severe water crisis, mainly caused by upstream countries, especially Turkey, which controls the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers through a series of dams and major water projects.
