Water Diplomacy and Transboundary Resource Management: The Iraq-Turkey Water Agreement as a Case Study

Prof. Dr. Salah Jubair Al-Buseisi

College of Law / University of Karbala

1. Study Concept

Water is the foundation of life and a primary driver of development across all sectors. It is also a critical determinant of inter-state relations, shaping both cooperative and conflictual dynamics. With over half of the global population relying on water resources shared across international borders, disputes among riparian states are virtually inevitable. Upstream nations frequently assert primary rights over water usage compared to transit or downstream states.

Although international treaties exist to govern shared watercourses, several water-rich nations, particularly upstream states, have refrained from acceding to them. Furthermore, these conventions often fail to establish binding enforcement mechanisms for equitable water allocation. As framework agreements, they avoid imposing strict operational procedures, leaving it to the states concerned to devise cooperation mechanisms that preserve equitable distribution and prevent harm to neighboring parties. Notably, such resource disputes are not restricted to transboundary waters; they extend to other shared border resources and raw materials, including oil, gas, and minerals.

2. Importance of the Study

Water diplomacy has emerged as an unconventional diplomatic discipline designed to overcome the constraints of traditional statecraft. It provides flexible legal and political frameworks that address the specific needs of parties in water disputes while opening broader avenues for collaboration. Consequently, water diplomacy functions as a mechanism to safeguard the water interests of riparian states through active cooperation and sustainable, equitable resource development, achieving mutual benefits under a win-win approach. Where necessary, water diplomacy is also tasked with managing hydropolitics to preserve regional water security.

A key advantage of water diplomacy lies in its reliance on negotiation to craft scientific and practical solutions within a strategic water management vision, mitigating geopolitical conflicts arising from water scarcity. Under this diplomatic framework, Iraq and Turkey signed a ten-article framework water agreement in 2024 to regulate bilateral water cooperation. On November 2, 2025, the foreign ministers of both nations signed an executive memorandum implementing this agreement. The accord introduced new cooperative mechanisms for mutual benefit: beyond aiming for equitable water sharing, it involved Turkey in upgrading Iraq's water infrastructure through investment projects. Under these terms, Turkish companies will execute infrastructure projects for irrigation systems, dams, and water treatment facilities, funded in part through a dedicated percentage of Iraqi oil export revenues routed through Turkish ports.

3. Problem Statement

Water represents a vital socio-economic resource supporting agriculture, industry, domestic livelihoods, and environmental ecosystems. Consequently, states, including Iraq, strive to protect and develop these resources. Given that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Iraq's primary lifelines, originate in Turkey, a new strategic approach toward Ankara is required. This approach necessitates joint infrastructure projects to deepen bilateral cooperation while upholding international legal principles enshrined in water conventions, alongside economic and environmental considerations.

4. Study Hypothesis

The study posits a direct correlation between water diplomacy and international cooperation: as joint projects, international agreements, and bilateral committees expand among riparian states, cooperative relations increase proportionally. This research presents a framework focusing on the necessity of water diplomacy in reducing water disputes and converting potential friction into cooperative partnerships that serve national interests.

5. Methodology

The study uses an analytical approach by examining the legal texts of water agreements, including the 1997 United Nations Watercourses Convention, and customary international law, focusing on the principles of "equitable and reasonable utilization" and the obligation to "cause no harm." It also utilizes a comparative methodology, drawing on successful water diplomacy models from international river basins, such as the Danube in Europe and the Mekong in Asia.

6. Study Objectives

The study aims to offer novel legal solutions within the framework of water diplomacy, including proposals for joint projects that strengthen cooperation between Iraq and Turkey. Furthermore, this research provides a scientific and practical reference applicable to other transboundary resource issues, such as shared oil fields and aquifers, under a broader framework of "transboundary resource diplomacy."

7. Study Structure

     In addition to an introduction and a conclusion, the study is structured into three primary sub-sections: Sub-section 1: Defining water diplomacy and examining the Iraq-Turkey water agreement.

Sub-section 2: Analyzing the legal framework governing water diplomacy.

Sub-section 3: Applying water diplomacy principles to the Iraq-Turkey water agreement.

The conclusion will outline key research findings alongside practical policy recommendations to enhance cooperation among states sharing transboundary resources.