Water–energy–food nexus in a transboundary context: the Euphrates–Tigris river basin as a case study

Abstract

The interlinkage between water, energy and food security and its transboundary relevance is becoming increasingly important. The paper analyses the evolution of transboundary water resources management in the Euphrates–Tigris basin with specific reference to interlinkages between water, food and energy policies at national and transboundary levels, and it explores how the policy shifts at the highest decision-making level have served to produce synergies for cooperation among the riparians or vice versa.

Keywords:

• water–energy–food (WEF) nexus
• Euphrates–Tigris river basin
• transboundary water politics
• Turkey
• Syria
• Iraq

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Cansu Gulec, Research Assistant at MEF University in compiling part of the data used in the article.

Notes

1. Protocol on Matters Pertaining to Economic Cooperation Between the Republic of Turkey and the Syrian Arab Republic, United Nations Treaty Series 87/12171, 17/7/1987.

2. Joint Minutes Concerning the Provisional Division of the Waters of the Euphrates River (Iraq–Syria) (signed 17 April 1989) (available at: faolex.fao.org).