How the Development Road Project Will Bring Stability to Iraq

 

On April 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Iraq for the first time in 13 years.  The goal of his visit was to sign a memorandum of understanding with Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE for the construction of the “Development Road” project, a multimodal transport corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf with Turkiye through road and rail links across Iraq.

The project, which will cover 792 miles, is expected to cost around $20 billion. The system will begin at the Iraqi port of Al-Fao, at the mouth of the Shatt Al Arab, and connect with Turkish roads and railways at Faysh Khabur, where freight railways will connect with road and rail networks. Along the new roads and rail routes, factories and workshops will also be built.

The first phase of port development is expected to be complete by early next year. The railway system will carry 3.5 million cargo containers and 22 million tonnes of bulk cargo within three years, with exponential increases in future years. The project aims to reduce the delivery time from Shanghai to Rotterdam from 33 to 15 days.

Through this significant economic and strategic project, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani hopes to breathe new life into his conflict-ridden country. Approximately 90 percent of the country's revenue comes from oil sales, which means that national finances are totally dependent on global oil prices, the quantity of oil it can sell under OPEC's quotas, and the smooth functioning of the pipeline that transports it to Turkiye.

Oil pipeline safety is linked to the federal government's relationship with the Kurdistan Regional Government, which frequently denies the central government revenues from oil exports from its territory.

Through the Development Road initiative, the Iraqi government will be able to invest in infrastructure, reconstruction, and manufacturing, thereby creating jobs for the country's citizens.

The project has several positive aspects. Qatar and the UAE provide substantial expertise and funding to the enterprise, and ADPort has already signed a contract with its Iraqi counterpart to operate Al-Fao port and establish an economic zone there.

Turkiye also supports the project, as it complements Ankara's interest in positioning itself as a regional economic hub and connects the country with Europe, China, and Central Asia.

During his April visit to Iraq, Erdogan signed a "Strategic Framework Agreement on Joint Cooperation" with the country, as well as memorandums of understanding on trade, energy, and water.

Last but not least, Turkiye's dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have greatly reduced the amount of water available to Iraq, even creating drought conditions on occasion. By implementing these agreements, the two neighboring countries will be able to cooperate more closely on irrigation technology for efficient use of scarce resources.

Iraq still faces some important challenges in its project. As a result of four decades of domestic and regional conflicts, Iraqi technical, financial, and political institutions remain fragile. The government must address the problems of inadequate governance capabilities and endemic corruption if it is to see the project through.

Iraq faces a major challenge in this regard due to its near-autonomous militias, many of which are part of the Popular Mobilization Units, which frequently use force without fear of sanctions from the government.

During the Gaza war, PMU militants have launched nearly 200 attacks on US targets in Iraq and Syria, which have prompted strong retaliation. As a result of such activities, the nation's ambitious infrastructure project could be undermined by an environment of insecurity and instability.

Daesh, also known as the Islamic State, has resurfaced in Iraq as a major threat. Despite being declared defeated through military efforts in December 2017, remaining members of the organization have taken to hiding. They have since carried out sporadic hit-and-run attacks in remote locations, including a bombing that claimed nine police officers' lives in Kirkuk back in December 2022. In a more recent incident, Daesh militants attacked an army site in eastern Iraq just last month, resulting in the death of several soldiers, including their commanding officer. According to US military sources, there are estimated to be around 1,000 Daesh fighters currently operating in Iraq and another 1,500 in Syria.

In addition to dealing with internal sources of insecurity, Iraq also faces the consequences of Turkiye's intermittent airstrikes against members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who have taken refuge in northern Iraq. Following a PKK-affiliated suicide attack in Ankara last year, which was their first since 2016, Turkish airstrikes on PKK locations in Iraq became common. This has led to a pattern of retaliatory attacks by the group in Turkiye, resulting in ongoing Turkish retaliation in northern Iraq.

Consequently, Iraq remains rife with lethal conflict sources. If the Development Road project is to succeed in its aim of transforming the nation’s economic and political situation and improving the lives of its beleaguered people, these issues must be effectively addressed.

However, the channel wants viewers to be aware of another recent development. This issue is important because maintaining harmony between Turkey and Iraq is crucial for the Development Road Project. In a press briefing on 2 July, US State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel called on Turkey to respect Iraqi sovereignty.

In an escalation of its attacks against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Turkey has moved thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks into Duhok Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Additionally, the US State Department has urged Turkey to "protect civilians".

In northern Iraq, Turkey occupies large swathes of the Kurdistan Region, prompting protests from locals, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK).

Turkish military checkpoints have been set up in the region, and civilians are reportedly being stopped and asked for identification.

According to the Community Peacemaker Teams - an international group monitoring the area - Turkey has attacked the KRI more than 800 times this year.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has been widely criticized for not taking any position on these developments.

In April this year, the Iraqi Federal and KDP gave the green light to a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq in exchange for an oil, water, and infrastructure deal with Turkey. It was reached after a visit by Turkish President Erdoğan to Erbil (Hewlêr).

Because Turkey received permission from Iraqi Federal and the KDP, perhaps, the entire situation is nothing to worry about.