Iraq and Turkey have signed a landmark deal linking oil revenues to water infrastructure projects, marking a new era of strategic cooperation between the two nations. The agreement builds on the 2024 Framework Water Accord signed during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad, aimed at easing long-standing tensions over shared water resources.
Under the arrangement, Iraq will fund Turkish-led projects through revenue from oil exports to Turkey. A joint committee will oversee implementation, with Turkish firms invited to bid. The first phase includes three water-harvesting dams and three land reclamation projects, designed to boost agricultural output and mitigate drought and flooding.
The partnership is expected to enhance Iraq’s water security, revitalize agriculture, and strengthen economic ties with Turkey. For Ankara, it opens new opportunities for its engineering sector while consolidating influence in the region—transforming historical resource tensions into mutual development gains.
