American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 MESOPOTAMIAN DROUGHT UNDER THE POLICIES OF NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND THE STRATEGIC WATER CRISIS FOR IRAQ Dr.Farzad Rostami- Department . Political Science- Razi University Dr. Ghodrat Ahmadian-Department . Political Science – Razi University PhD. Student : Saeed Mohammed- - Razi university: said.mhamad@koyauniversity.org Abstract The Mesopotamian civilization of present-day Iraq, the first civilization in history, began to build systems that control water resources through an extensive network of irrigation canals and flood control regulators, prompting scientists and researchers to launch a new concept in the Mesopotamian community. This is a "hydraulic community." On the banks of the two great Tigris and Euphrates rivers in this region, the development of tools for the construction and development of human civilization began, such as books, irrigation systems, trade, and commodity exchanges and their standards, building cities, enacting laws, arithmetic methods, mathematics, and astronomy .It should be said that these tools are the foundations on which the late and present civilizations were built . Keywords: Iraq, Strategy, Drought, Mesopotamia, Water Crisis. Introduction The prosperity of Mesopotamian civilization was linked to the availability of water and the control of the waters of the two rivers, and the nature of the usage of this water in agriculture, during the seasons of agriculture and scarcity. The climate change that Mesopotamia witnessed thousands of years ago led to the collapse of sustainable societies .Scientists believe the disappearance of the O'Rourke civilization was caused by drought in the area during 3200-3000 BC (HarveyWeiss 2001:609.) Surveys and data show that climate change has had huge impacts for long periods, as communities at those times lacked the technical ability to cope with these changes, which led to the destruction of agricultural infrastructure. This was one of the most important foundations for establishing those communities (Richard, 1998: 325). These climate changes have led to a shift in population concentration and migration from drought-affected areas to areas less affected by these changes .But improved climatic conditions later led to a dramatic boom in the Akkadian period, such as ancient Egypt and Greek civilization, that peaked around (2300) BC .Current and 125 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ mailto:said.mhamad@koyauniversityy.org American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 future climates are the product of natural factors and human activities and the last factor is the dominant factor .Accordingly, the environmental future of these two rivers and their plains depends on nature and how society responds to the expected risks . Water is of great importance since it is a fundamental element in the success of agricultural projects and the expansion of its areas, as water resources are an important natural resource and have a direct relationship with the provision of people's food and access to food security for each country .This research aimed to investigate the limitation of availability of water resources and the increasing demand for it, its abundance, use, and loss because of natural and man-made reasons leading to severe water shortages and a reduction in per capita water share in Iraq. Investigations and studies are important to understand these resources' problems and obstacles. Today, the importance of water has increased because it is one of the fundamental components of development in its various economic, social, and health concepts .The reduction and pollution of water resources due to irrational use and policies adopted by some countries, especially river source countries, has affected the quantity and water quality of coastal countries in these rivers .To protect the rights of countries participating in international rivers, the United Nations passed the International Water Act in 1994 for the use of water routes for non-shipping purposes, which includes a number of provisions that affirm the common rights of all coastal states not to harm others .Iraq, as a downstream country, is one of the countries that has been affected by the policies of upstream countries (Turkey, Iran, and Syria) as a result of the projects and programs implemented by the countries mentioned above, regardless of Iraq's rights to the waters of the region .The level of the Euphrates River on the Syrian border in the al-Qaim region has fallen from its normal level of about 28 billion cubic meters to about 12.4 billion cubic meters or a 65.5 percent reduction .The most significant decline was in 1990, reaching approximately 68.8%, and Iran has also established projects on the source of the Diyala river and zab-e-sofla (Al-Najfi, 2001:36). Therefore, water security is one of the most important national security issues for any country and the importance of water security as one of the strategic issues is related to national security, especially because of the impact on the existence and lives of its people .Since water is the most essential resource beyond borders, countries compete with each other .Countries are enacting laws to make it a national asset to provide enough water to ensure the continuation of their development plans . Given the conditions that the continual population increase shows and what this increase requires is important future planning for the population and agricultural sector and other important policies related to the water sector. Given the crises and many challenges Iraq is facing, it is suffering from a severe water shortage crisis due to the water policies of countries controlling Iraq's river resources, the Tigris. The Euphrates, Zab-e Sofla, and Diyala and their branches and water policies do not serve Iraq's interests and partly harm its water security, as these countries want from the east on behalf of northern Turkey and Iran. 126 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 The use of water as a winning condition in all negotiations serves as an element of pressure to achieve political goals and objectives, and since Iraq is largely dependent on water received from these countries, it creates problems during the policies imposed by upstream countries .They affect the future by closing branches through dam construction, constructing extensive facilities and exploiting them on rivers, diverting many branches of them, not recognizing the contracts concluded between the river and coastal countries, and not complying with international law. Iraq's water and development projects necessarily require starting work and adopting new policies and dialogues with upstream countries to reach agreements on water sharing by international river law. 1. .Water crisis in Iraq: Water shortages threaten development in the Middle East region. Decreasing and fluctuating rainfall, high evaporation, and frequent droughts lead to reduced dependence and access to water resources (Beck Droubi, Jnad, and Al Sibaii 2006). Most regions are considered arid or semi-arid (desert) regions with less than 250 mm of annual rainfall, except South Sudan, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and countries bordering the Atlantic and the Mediterranean due to high rainfall rates .In addition to the previous conditions, rapid population growth since the mid-seventies has led to a sharp decline in the per capita share of renewable water resources .The average per capita per year changed from 2,925 cubic meters in 1962 to 1,179.6 in 1992, then dropped alarmingly in 2011 to 743.5 cubic meters - that is, by 1,000 cubic meters falling from the poverty line and falling annually .The average annual per capita is 7,240 cubic meters, and fifteen Arab countries suffer from water shortages. The average per capita share of water reaches 1,000 cubic meters below the poverty line . Per capita share in twelve countries does not exceed 500 cubic meters per year due to acute levels of shortages set by the World Health Organization. Still, seven countries decrease by about 200 cubic meters per year. (Muhammad al-Sayed Said, 1002: 28) . By 2025, Iraq and possibly Sudan could be the only two countries with average water of more than 1,000 cubic meters per year. (FAO 2013(.By 2030, climate change will lead to a 20% reduction in renewable water resources and an increase in droughts due to reduced rainfall, increased domestic demand, and agriculture for water due to rising temperatures .Increasing saltwater penetration into coastal aquifers occurs, with rising sea levels and continued over-exploitation of groundwater (Doumani, 2008). Water weapons are a new term that will be adopted in the Middle East region to spark a war between farmers and residents of cities and between ethnic groups and, the source stakeholders, and the mouth of the river .Water shortage has put people in stagnation and poverty and is one of the most important reasons for the Syrian revolution (Arab Legal and Judicial Research Center, 2018: 3). Given that the countries from which the rivers and branches of Iraq originate use water as pressure and bargaining on behalf of Turkey and Iran in their relations with Iraq, 127 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 regardless of their interests and water security, Iraq Considers common rivers as international .Therefore, no upstream countries have the right to carry out water projects without prior agreement with other countries through which rivers pass. The continuation of harmful water policies in Iraq will create water tension .Therefore, this problem requires a plan to move and deal with this risk. Moreover, attempts should be made to invest optimally in all areas and be wary of the impact of external hazards by developing joint plans to manage this case .Researchers and strategic experts consider water as one of the most important elements of this century's conflict because it will play an essential role in continuing industrial and development processes and achieving government programs in most sectors. Iraq is located east of the Arab world and bordered by Iran to the east and Turkey to the north. It covers an area of 437,072 square kilometers and has a population of 39.33 million. About 25 percent of them live in rural areas, and the population density in the western parts is five people per kilometer, which is increasing. The proportion is approximately 170 people per square kilometer in the central parts, and Iraq shares about 50 rivers with neighboring Turkey and Iran. Most of them are Badami, but the rivers coming from Turkey pump more than 40 common rivers between Iraq and Iran (such as Al-Ansari, 2018: 43). Due to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and other branches and rivers originating from neighboring countries, Iraq was one of the water-rich countries until the 1970s. The traditional flow toward the Iraqi plains (Rostam Mahmoud, 2021:6) began with the construction of dams in Syria and Turkey on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, significantly reducing the flow of rivers entering Iraq and affected its development plans and in several areas.Because of its significant impact on national security and development strategies, the Euphrates was the beginning of a crisis and severe water shortages in Iraq (Al-Ansari, N. A. and Knutsson, 2011: 53) Also, Iraq's water resources depend mainly on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which come from north to south from Turkey, then Syria and from the east to Iran, followed by Iran (6.9%) and Syria (4%). Groundwater remaining from inside Iraq is very limited, and the flow of these rivers before 1973 was expected. Still, they were affected by dam construction and their redirection to other areas. From what the Organization (ESCWA) analyzed river flows from 1931 to 2011, it is clear that the amounts of this water then began to decline until it reached 19.5 billion cubic meters from 1974 to 2005. As mentioned earlier, dam construction and changing river branches in successive years have helped reduce water by 21.3 billion cubic meters and a large proportion (Al-Ansari, N.A., 2016: 140). 2. Causes of the water crisis in Iraq: It is necessary to see a variety of reasons for the water crisis that Iraq is going through; these reasons can be divided as follows: 128 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 2. 1. External causes. Water projects carried out by upstream countries on rivers and tributes and their common branches with Iraq are one of the external reasons for the escalation of Iraq's water crisis, as agreements were made and numerous meetings were held on water and water projects. During the Ottoman-dominated region, followed by an Anglo-French hegemony, the first agreement was signed between Britain, Russia, Iran, and Turkey in 1913 about the organization of the Shatt al-Arab River, after which France and Britain signed a deal in 1920 to regulate the use of water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. And then the third contract was signed in 1930. When Iraq gained independence in 1932, it signed two deals, one agreement with Iran in 1937 over Shat al-Arab, and another with Turkey in 1946 (e.g., Al-Ansari, 2018: 37). After that, the meetings continued without mutual agreement, and Syria began building the Tabqa Dam. Disputes over Euphrates river water between Iraq and Syria intensified in 1975. The issue reached the point of war without the mediation of the parties. The conflict between Turkey and Syria then intensified. In 1987, when Turkey accused the Syrian regime of aiding the Kurds and threatened to cut off the waters from Syria, an agreement was reached to resolve the issue .Turkey continued to build dams on the Euphrates and the Tigris, and when any dam was built, the political divide between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq increased (Bafneche Kinosh, 2018: 47). There are external reasons other than those related to projects in water source countries, and these are related to the climate change that Iraq has witnessed. Because studies show that the Middle East is one of the regions most exposed to or affected by climate change. The river flows in the Middle East are declining due to climate change. Many researchers suggest that rainfall periods will be relatively short, meaning that rain may come with high concentrations in a short period, leading to soil erosion and thus the deterioration of agricultural production. This worn soil precipitates in reservoirs of dams, leading to a decrease in the storage capacity of these reservoirs and a decrease in the amount of water in underground reservoirs. Since the amount of treated water from rivers to these reservoirs decreases due to shortening the rainfall period (Jalal Abdullah, 1992:38). 1 .1 .2Turkey's water policy Turkey has set strategic objectives through which it supports its decision to strengthen its international and regional status and power and restore its political and strategic position in the region, thus putting pressure on the middle east area at the forefront of its goals. On the one hand, Turkey has found a tool for achieving its desired goals in developing its policy, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the embodiment of its strategic objectives in achieving an influential regional role. 129 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 Turkey has always sought to delay well as prolong negotiations to manage shared waters with downstream countries and hence seeks to achieve a hidden objective in its water policy in the Tigris and Euphrates basins. This includes encapsulating the issue of water with a political framework to allow it to continue the policy of constructing irrigation projects in the Tigris and Euphrates basins without referring to the rights of Iraq and Syria and to put them first after creating a geographical location in reality .The strategic factor is through which it could control river water and exploit it as a pressure card or bargaining tool in its relations with downstream countries, and Iraq is one of them (Awni al-Sabawi, 1999: 184). Turkey is also pursuing its strategic hegemony over the Arab East region and its geographical neighbors by exploiting its international relations to build a new Turkish empire based on water and trying to divide the Euphrates between itself and Syria to reach Syria .Turkey does not have to allocate part of the Euphrates water to Iraq and postpone the development of the Tigris Basin so that Iraq releases Euphrates water and compensates for it using Tigris water, obliging the division of Iraq. Use Tigris water only on one side and the economy using its water on the other (Shukri Mohammed, 2020: 72). The development of the current regional situation has contributed to Turkey's dominance of the region through economic means using the region's vital water resources for political patterns in the region in which Turkey plays an active role, which represents the properties agreed by Turkish political circles scientifically and culturally .Given the link between Turkey's economic and political objectives, the latter was abandoned in forming social and cultural cooperation between Turkey and the Arab world .As part of the rearrangement of social, economic and political conditions to achieve Turkey's regional goals in the Arab East based on the slogan of oil versus water (Sabah Mahmoud and Abd Prince Abbas, 1998: 61). Following Turkey's strategy of managing the common water case, it is clear that these objectives determine Turkey's behavior based on economic pillars that aim to achieve two main objectives: balancing the financial balance for the development of the Turkish economy .The use of water is a political weapon to achieve Turkey's strategic goals by treating it as an influential factor in its relations with neighboring Arab countries, especially Iraq (Fathi Hussein, 1998: 83). The nature of the deal can be determined through the various policies that Turkey implemented, and in turn, affect Iraq's water security and national security ;the most important of these policies is the division of water because Turkey's policy has not remained within limits. Turkish politicians reacted to calls for Syria and Iraq but developed their own goals for setting plans .It confirmed this by stating that Turkey has sovereignty over its water resources and that everyone should know that the Tigris and Euphrates are not international rivers but Turkish rivers until they leave the Turkish region. (Awni al-Sabawi, 199958 :). 130 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 Other policies That Turkey pursued in the Common Waters case are using water as a means of pressure or bargaining despite the continued denial of this issue .In practice, however, it became clear on several stages, including an attempt by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which has been diplomatically treated with Syria and Iraq regarding the water problem in terms of the separation of political and economic considerations, but failed at the time and faced the threat of Densbikeil, turkey's then-foreign minister, in a way that Syria did not support opposition parties and did not harbor their leaders in its homeland. Dad (Abdul Star Hussain, 2000: 26). Other policies that have been taken into account in Turkey's foreign behavior and its role in further exacerbating the common water crisis, particularly with Iraq, cannot be ignored to deepen various differences and divisions for a number of reasons between Iraq and Syria .That will be positively reflected in achieving its interests in continuing its massive projects in the Euphrates Basin .Setting Turkey's strategic objectives through which it supports its decision to strengthen its international and regional standing and power and restore its political and strategic position in the region, as we mentioned earlier, can only be done through the adoption of a water policy represented by a number of individuals .The projects and steps that achieve Turkey's goals, which in turn are goals that serve and support Turkey's interests, but this is done without recognizing Iraq's interests and its national and water security, and what these policies and plans reflect are the diverse crises that Iraq will suffer from in the future. 2.1.2 Iran's Water Policies: Iran's water policy has helped exacerbate the problem along the country's western borders with Iraq, where about two-thirds of Iran's total 10.2 billion cubic meters of water leaking from the country go to Iraq, and experts expect Iran's western provinces to continue .Losing water reserves at some point because of water flow means the Iranian government has to follow strict water policies that allow Iran to fully utilize the water resources that leak from the country, as Iran knows it is building thirteen new dams. Over the past three decades, more than 600 dams have been constructed, and other projects have been implemented, leading to widespread water transfers that deprived western provinces adjacent to the Iraqi border of water requirements and directed it toward the center and east .As a result of this policy, Relations between Iran and Iraq deteriorated because of the water crisis between the two countries as Iran moves toward controlling the water crisis that emerged in 2011 and is expected to worsen and lead to significant water shortages in the country by 2036. Iran has ignored the problem by seeking quick and practical solutions by building Large dams and water transfer projects despite the social and economic consequences of such projects (Kosar Nikahanak, 2018). 131 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 Since the 16th century, Isfahan has relied on the Karun River and Zayandeh Rud, another large river that runs through Iran's central valley .Iran also transferred water from zayandehrud road to Yazd province on Iran's eastern border. These policies worsened the issue due to negative impacts on some areas of Iran due to increased water tributaries from the Karun and Zayandehrud rivers to eastern provinces . Farmers in Iran's Central Valley and farmers in neighboring Khuzestan province are most in need, a problem that has exacerbated tensions on Iran's border with Iraq and affected border areas and villages adjacent to Iranian territory (Bazarpour Farzaneh, 2018) Water shortages in Iraq have led to significant social, political, and security problems. If Iran continues its water policiewill be s, it accuses Iran of contributing to the escalation of the crisis by redirecting the Tigris and Euphrates-fed rivers .Also, dam construction, and since both countries do not seek to solve the problem through water diplomacy, which has positive effects for both sides, Iran may enter significant water conflict with Iraq .How to manage the water crisis in Iraq and if the problem is not solved, it is likely to become a significant security threat affecting the two countries' relations .Instead of tackling the problem, Iraq is trying to solve the water dispute with neighboring countries as a domestic rather than regional issue. In fact there is no major or comprehensive agreement between Iran and Iraq on the management of shared rivers between them, and international law has given Iran rights and obligations .However, the use of cross-border waters remains obscure, as international law on such matters is largely based on agreements between states (Poonche Kinosh, 2018: 1-2). Several Iranian officials warned that water shortages could lead to regional tensions with neighboring countries, including Iraq, especially after Iran found it needed better control after ISIS took control of the Mosul Dam in 2014 and water infrastructure in neighboring areas .The waters on the border with Iraq, with dams and diversion of many rivers in other respects, were thought to protect the country's national security from this danger. Despite knowing it was not easy and threatening Iraq's water security by depriving many of its areas of fresh water and developing their agricultural programs. 2.2 .Internal reasons: The internal reasons leading to the escalation of the water crisis in Iraq vary. These reasons may be related to domestic policies adopted in the mechanism of water use and management or the problem of water and wastewater distribution networks and drinking water distribution .Networks are fragile because their efficiency does not exceed 32 percent, and demand for water is 11 million cubic meters per day while real water is half that amount .In the case of the sewage network, 14 of the 252 cities have sewage service, and the amount of treated water only serves 8 percent of the population, noting that sewage networks are worn out and require maintenance 132 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 because 70 percent of the city's water is worn out .This network penetrates rivers without treatment, and inappropriate quality of drinking water distribution networks and sewage networks has caused the mixing of sewage water with drinking water and outbreaks that negatively affect water quality for other use. (Hamed Haddad, 2020: 15). Mismanagement of water resources is one of the most important reasons that has added to the complexity of the water problem in Iraq. The lack of competence has led the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources to make no effort to negotiate with neighboring countries to secure Iraq .The ministry has abandoned the operation to maintain irrigation and drainage projects, and more than 15 percent of these projects are currently underway. The ministry has also granted water stocks to lands outside the irrigation area and reformed irrigation networks for this purpose. Contrary to all orders and to achieve self-interest, there was no plan to exploit dams, which led to a reduction in water storage in these dams to the lowest level. In addition to the above, the ministry submerged shallow land like the swamps, that have led to increased salinity in these areas (Rostam Mahmoud, 2021: 5). 3. Recommendation for the conservation and development of Iraqi water resources: -The basis for the conservation and development of water resources in Iraq is to accelerate the conclusion of contracts with Turkey, Syria, and Iran regarding the regulation of the operation of water resources in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as well as the water basins. -The numerous border rivers that flow between Iran and Iraq are in accordance with the principles of public international law and the customary rule of location and following the provisions of the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Use of Water Routes for non-shipping purposes, provided that the agreement includes the following main points: (Al-Zubaidi Mohammed Abdul Hamid, 2008: 12-18). -Determining the share of fixed water for each of these countries in the waters of the international rivers flowing in Iraq. -Coastal countries refuse to take any unilateral action in the basin of one of these rivers, which harms other coastal countries, especially Iraq. -Countries planning to carry out water projects in the basin of one of the rivers must negotiate with the rest of the countries to obtain their approval. -Establishing joint technical committees between coastal states to spend permanently on the proper implementation of the provisions of such an agreement. -Commitment of coastal countries to cooperate in the spirit of goodwill and good neighborliness in all matters related to the operation of water resources of these rivers. -Efforts to resolve disputes between the concerned countries through a peaceful solution, when we aspire to conclude such agreements to guarantee Iraq's rights in the waters of the international rivers flowing in, the relevant Iraqi authorities must adopt. 133 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 Optimization of water consumption in rationalizing its various uses and adopting new scientific methods. At first, it can be said that today, the issue of water has been considered as one of the main threatening factors to good neighborly relations and mutual understanding between many countries, especially those in an international river basin .There is no doubt that these important and growing countries are only within the framework of contemporary international relations, but this is due to a number of considerations. This indicates that for two decades, the world has suffered from two phenomena of drought and desertification, which have caused a real shortage of available water resources for many countries and to the extent described by some .This situation is related to the statement that the world is destined for a real famine of water (Mazloom Jamal et al., 1994:15). On the other hand, the worsening of food problems in many countries has been considered. Other alternatives necessitate the expansion of agriculture at the horizontal level to deal with these problems. There has also been an increase in rainfall in the use of water for industrial purposes, as well as an increase in demand for it due to the expansion of its use for household use, which has increased significantly in recent decades. The development of social relations in countries, in general, is due to the phenomenon of population explosion, which has caused many problems in some countries. This necessitates the expansion of economic development plans to attract population increase and provide food resources and suitable job opportunities. Any ambitious national program for economic development, especially in the field of agriculture and industry, can be said to create disputes between countries participating in a particular international river basin regarding the rights of each of them to benefit from the water of these rivers except for drinking, fishing or various industrial uses, and even in relation to electricity generation .One fundamental question is how correct it is to say that these international laws include the rules of decrees that can be invoked peacefully and peacefully .A method that guarantees a reasonable minimum for the exercise of good neighborliness principles while preserving the legitimate rights of each river basin country in relation to the exploitation of international river resources (Salma, Ramzi, 2.59 :005). 4 .Iraq and the Challenges of Crisis There is a significant challenge that Iraq and its water security will face, and it is possible to enter into more significant conflicts that may turn into wars over the remaining water as the population has risen horrifically since the 1950s .The climate change that the region is witnessing, the unfair water policies imposed by other Iraqi water resources and ignoring Iraq's interests, and the adverse effects these policies may have on the Iraqi economy and its location.Political conflicts and economic interests of countries in the region, including Turkey, in addition to the foreign 134 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 political and economic pressures it has put on it, will play an important role in exacerbating the problem in a more dangerous way than it is now in the region .The lack of international or bilateral agreements that regulate the issue of common water, which in turn, will exacerbate tensions between Iraq and its common countries in the water basins. (Al-Maxusi et al., 2012: 38). Overcoming the water crisis is difficult and requires great efforts by water resources specialists and foreign relations with upstream countries. Because it is necessary to hold negotiations between the relevant countries and with the presence of an elected international mediator with some important conditions such as financial and technological capability and his authority or influence over the political world at the global level in order to help the negotiating countries .These conditions are required by some entities or countries such as the World Bank and the United Nations to try to contain future crises caused by the common waters of countries because they are responsible for international security .Countries see water in their national and economic security. We can also see the United States as one of the tools that can help countries that can contribute because of its global political influence. (Yassin, Bushera, 2013: 58-63). These discussions can be used to win the case for Iraq's benefit by presenting cases encouraging the Turkish and Iranian sides to participate. Such as giving Turkey or Iran what they need in developing and implementing development programs, such as lowering oil prices, or allowing the Iranian side to increase its exports to Iraq. All meetings since the 1970s did not work, and where Turkey's participation was to blame. Therefore, coastal countries should prepare a strategic water management plan, provided that it is implemented regardless of political changes, etc., and we can provide a model for a successful strategic vision in water management, as all relevant sectors must participate. As experts, consultants, universities and relevant ministries such as agriculture, for example, relevant government NGOs and representatives of international organizations should submit recommendations and studies to make this strategy successful. It is also necessary to rebuild water-related institutions, renovate treatment plants, irrigation and water distribution networks, launch a public awareness program, and an educational and development program for technical and administrative staff workers of these institutions. We should encourage the private sector to invest in water by developing a straightforward cooperation program with other relevant ministries and international and regional cooperation in this essential strategy .International and regional organizations should be used to manage and invest in water resources. (Nazir al-Ansari, 2018: 128). We believe that other strategies can be used and used in managing the water case shared with neighboring Iraq. These strategies work through research and development, such as conducting practical research in order to benefit from advanced technology and make good use of it. 135 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 It is necessary to provide all relevant information and the possibility of using it by researchers and graduate students to diagnose water problems and help them find solutions. In case these strategies fail to provide water security in Iraq, it is necessary to resort to deterrence. Iraq's strategies are inevitable, as Article 36 of the UN Security Council Charter allows the Council to intervene at every stage of the conflict between states, issue binding decisions to all parties, and impose international mediation to prevent any potential conflict. Iraq could make its legal choice under this provision to pressure upstream countries in the event of heightened tensions in the water case, and Iraq could also use economic paper as another option. In addition to applying and linking the issue of trade deals in Iraq's favor with water policies, it serves as an important source of disposal of goods and goods from upstream countries, and we do not rule out the possibility of an Iraqi coalition with countries supporting Iraq's water security that reflects national security and regional stability. Because water resources and sources are abroad, and the lack of a security strategy to protect this national wealth increases the risk of this problem (Riyadh Hamed, 1994: 68-71). It can be said that Iraq is most affected by water shortages. Either because of its geographical location as a downstream country or because it believes that climate change or water projects and dams in Syria, Turkey and Iraq were affected by the protocol signed between Syria and Turkey in 1987 because its share did not exceed 9 billion cubic meters annually .It represents half of Iraq's minimum needs, yet it is not. There is an agreement between Syria and Iraq on the proportional distribution of the remaining Euphrates waters. (Gazi Rabia, 2002: 29). Many Iraqi water security researchers and enthusiasts have made numerous recommendations, including the division of Tigris and Euphrates water, requiring the two countries to cooperate in distributing this water wealth, as mutual mistrust may cause tension and conflict. It is also the creation of agricultural water projects between Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran to ensure the continuation of water flows to Syria and Iraq in appropriate quantities. In addition to trying to overcome the pressure factors in the economic sphere, trade and tourism relations influence Turkey's position and push it towards accountability for achieving legitimate interests with Iraq in common waters. (Hamid Haddad, 2020: 99). Also, the issue of water between Syria and Iraq is fundamental not only because the two countries are Arab, but also because they have the same stance on Turkey's water policy, especially since Iraq's water security is more relevant to Syria's water security. Due to the participation of the two countries in the two important water basins of the Arabian East, the Euphrates River Basin and, to some extent, the Tigris River basin, Syria and Iraq each form another strategic depth. (My God, 2001: 177). 136 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 The organic link between water security and food security as an effective tool for achieving sustainable agricultural development that aims to achieve the highest level of self-sufficiency is emphasized. Moreover, and enabling the work of the Joint International Technical Committee on Water between Iraq, Turkey, and Syria to accelerate the achievement of a fair division of common waters between the three countries, as well as adherence to Iraq's historical and legal water rights and non- compromise and defense of it is recommended ( Hamid Haddad, 2020: 100). Conclusion The water component will be effective in any future international strategy, and the water component will play a major role in redistributing the map of political forces in the region so that the countries with available water sources become the new and politically influential regional powers. Economically, water is expected to become a commodity sold and bought, such as oil, and the food crisis is also expected to intensify. All these negative consequences are the effects of the worsening water crisis and the decrease in the amount of its flow to Iraqi territory from the upstream countries represented by Turkey and Iran, each with objectives in pursuing such policies, and because water security in the Tigris and Euphrates basins is like one of the most prominent challenges and issues that have affected Iraqi national security soon. Not long ago, because of the unfair policies pursued by Iraq's neighboring countries, which consisted of constructing projects and dams, diverting the streams of rivers and cutting some of them or reducing their levels, they capparantly used water as a political weapon and pressure to reach their goals of swapping water for Arab oil and other important objectives. Therefore, it is necessary to negotiate water-sharing agreements with other coastal countries in order to develop agreements and laws to ensure equitable water distribution. It is also important to ensure the water quotas of those countries as determined by international norms and laws and agree with neighboring countries on the operational plan as well as other technical information on the release and storage of lakes associated with dams in those countries. It is also necessary to develop the available resources with the management of new resources, and work on the development of accurate and precise water policies representing current and future needs. We should also work in accordance with the strategy of deterrence to pressure the source countries to refrain from their water policy harmful to the interests of Iraq. Despite all the above, there remains a significant deficiency by those responsible for water security in shared water, which requires racing against time and working collectively using all possibilities to achieve Iraqi water security. 137 | P a g e http://www.ajird.journalspark.org/ American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 06, July, 2022 Sources Books: 1. Aouni Al-Sabawi (1999) Iraqi-Turkish relations, Iraq's status and points of understanding, reality and prospects for the future, group of researchers, Mosul University, June. 2. 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