How the Middle East Can Benefit from Türkiye’s New Innovative Hydropolitics and Hydro Diplomacy
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy Center-Türkiye
January 2 2026
Abstract
Climate governance in the Middle East will have a lasting impact on the region’s political and economic future. At present, intensifying climate impacts and political instability are forcing governments to act with urgency. The way these countries manage climate action and water security will reshape state–society relations in the region. Climate governance in the Middle Eastwill play a significant role in shaping the region’s political stability and economic resilience as climate impacts intensify.
Innovative hydro diplomacy could also accelerate global cooperation. Win-win-based Hydro Diplomacy can bring new opportunities and secure long-term cooperation.
This paper argues that a new, innovative hydropolitics and hydrodiplomacy approach that uses a water-oil swap agreement may offer the best chance of achieving sustainable transboundary cooperation and regional development. Combining a regional development project with transboundary water cooperation can mobilize finance, manage social impacts, and maintain public trust.
Keywords: Middle East, Hydro diplomacy, Hydropolitics, Climate change,
1. Introduction
Türkiye’s relations with its southern neighbors, Iraq and Syria, have long been hampered by the intensity of the conflict in the region and the influence of terrorist movements such as ISIS, the PKK, and the PYD-SDF. An exception to this period was the exceptional improvement in Türkiye-Syria relations in 2008, which lasted until the civil unrest in Syria began in 2011. Subsequently, Türkiye maintained relations with the Iraqi Central Government and the KRG at various levels, while relations with Syria were completely severed and resumed after the regime was overthrown by Ahmed Shara in December 2024. Towards the end of this period of civil war and turmoil, Türkiye signed a significant “Framework Agreement on Water Cooperation” with Iraq, one of its southern neighbors, in 2024.
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How the Middle East Can Benefit from Türkiye’s New Innovative Hydropolitics and Hydro Diplomacy
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy Center-Türkiye
January 2 2026
Abstract
Climate governance in the Middle East will have a lasting impact on the region’s political and economic future. At present, intensifying climate impacts and political instability are forcing governments to act with urgency. The way these countries manage climate action and water security will reshape state–society relations in the region. Climate governance in the Middle Eastwill play a significant role in shaping the region’s political stability and economic resilience as climate impacts intensify.
Innovative hydro diplomacy could also accelerate global cooperation. Win-win-based Hydro Diplomacy can bring new opportunities and secure long-term cooperation.
This paper argues that a new, innovative hydropolitics and hydrodiplomacy approach that uses a water-oil swap agreement may offer the best chance of achieving sustainable transboundary cooperation and regional development. Combining a regional development project with transboundary water cooperation can mobilize finance, manage social impacts, and maintain public trust.
Keywords: Middle East, Hydro diplomacy, Hydropolitics, Climate change,
1. Introduction
Türkiye’s relations with its southern neighbors, Iraq and Syria, have long been hampered by the intensity of the conflict in the region and the influence of terrorist movements such as ISIS, the PKK, and the PYD-SDF. An exception to this period was the exceptional improvement in Türkiye-Syria relations in 2008, which lasted until the civil unrest in Syria began in 2011. Subsequently, Türkiye maintained relations with the Iraqi Central Government and the KRG at various levels, while relations with Syria were completely severed and resumed after the regime was overthrown by Ahmed Shara in December 2024. Towards the end of this period of civil war and turmoil, Türkiye signed a significant “Framework Agreement on Water Cooperation” with Iraq, one of its southern neighbors, in 2024.
To read the full article, please click on
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