Turkey and Iraq Draft Water-Sharing Agreement Amidst Severe Drought

Historic Agreement on Water Management

Top diplomats from Turkey and Iraq have reached a tentative agreement on a draft framework for sharing water from the vital Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This significant development, announced on Friday, October 10th or 11th, 2025, comes as both nations grapple with worsening drought conditions across the region. The draft 'framework' agreement is anticipated to be formally signed in Baghdad in the near future.

Addressing Critical Water Scarcity

The agreement is a direct response to severe water shortages, particularly impacting Iraq, a downstream country that relies heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates for its fresh water supply. Iraqi officials have consistently voiced concerns that dams constructed by Turkey, such as those part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), including the Ilisu Dam, have significantly reduced water flows. The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources has described 2025 as 'the harshest Iraq has seen in terms of water scarcity since 1933.' Climate change is identified as a major factor exacerbating these shortages.

Key Provisions of the Draft Framework

The proposed framework outlines a comprehensive approach to water management and cooperation. According to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the draft builds upon a joint mechanism established two years prior and encompasses two primary pillars:

• Infrastructure Rehabilitation: This pillar focuses on rehabilitating Iraq's water distribution and related infrastructure, guided by a joint working committee.
• Coordinated Water-Sharing: A standing consultation group will be created to coordinate water-sharing decisions between the two countries.

During recent discussions in Ankara, Iraqi Water Resources Minister Aoun Diab formally requested that Turkey increase water releases into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The request specifies a total of one billion cubic meters during October and November, aiming for 500 cubic meters per second for each river, to help replenish reservoirs ahead of an expected wet season in December.

Diplomatic Statements and Improved Relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the shared nature of the rivers, stating, 'We know and understand the difficulties you are experiencing. We are brothers and sisters in this region,' and 'The waters of the Euphrates and Tigris (rivers) belong to all of us.' He also expressed hope for the swift implementation of water rehabilitation projects, acknowledging that water scarcity would remain a long-term challenge.

The agreement signals a period of improved relations between Turkey and Iraq. This positive shift follows other recent cooperative measures, including Turkey lifting a flight ban on Sulaymaniyah International Airport in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and Iraq resuming oil exports through Turkey's Ceyhan port.