The Ministry of Water Resources revealed that the government has escalated the water file to a sovereign level.
This move signifies a strategic shift, emphasizing the importance of water negotiations.
The government has augmented the Iraqi negotiating team with skilled professionals to secure water quotas from neighboring nations.
Spokesperson Khaled Shamal highlighted, “Under the current government, water is now considered a sovereign issue rather than merely a technical or diplomatic matter.”
He elaborated that Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani’s diplomatic visits and media attention on the water file have propelled negotiations with neighboring countries to an advanced stage. Shamal indicated that concrete steps are imminent to secure Iraq’s water allocations.
Iraq faces three primary challenges in its water management. Firstly, Iraq heavily relies on imported water, which accounts for 70% of its total supply. Secondly, climate changes have led to water scarcity due to minimal rainfall in recent years. Lastly, the country lags in adopting modern agricultural practices and technologies. Shamal asserted that government initiatives have already begun improving Iraq’s water situation.
Shamal added that the Prime Minister has stressed the importance of implementing a modern irrigation system. This strategic move aims to boost support for agriculture while minimizing water wastage in Iraq’s water management efforts.
