The impact of Turkish Water Policy in the Water Crisis in Iraq

Abstract

One of the most important challenges facing Iraq at the present time is the water resources crisis and water shortage, as many vital sectors such as drinking water, agriculture and industry depend on water resources, and Iraq is witnessing a continuous deterioration in water levels, and this deterioration has led to multiple factors, including mismanagement of water resources, climate change, the political and economic repercussions of Turkish water policy, as well as the construction of dams and reservoirs that lead to a change in water flow, affecting the environmental and economic balance in the region and enabling Turkey to exploit the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as a source of water for its agricultural and industrial needs, which leads to reduce the flow of water into Iraq. The research aims to clarify the details and dimensions of the water crisis in Iraq, shed light on the influencing factors, and present the political and economic repercussions of Turkish water policy. The research problem is that the real crisis that will face the Middle East region in the near term is the water resources crisis. The research hypothesis is that Iraq's entry into a major and dangerous water crisis will threaten its food security and regional position, and will be naturally affected by the huge projects that Turkey has implemented. Conclusions: Through its projects on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkey seeks to achieve a set of political, strategic, economic and security gains and goals. Research structure: The study was divided into three sections, in addition to the conclusion, which includes conclusions and recommendations.