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Episode details

World Service,11 Oct 2026,28 mins

The politics of water: Iraq and Turkey

The Documentary Podcast

Available for over a year

Two rivers helped build civilisation. Now they are at the centre of a geopolitical struggle that casts a shadow over the future of the Middle East. For centuries, the Tigris and Euphrates carried goods, armies and ideas, shaping some of history's greatest empires. But today, a toxic mix of climate change, outdated irrigation methods and conflicting national interests is pushing these rivers to the brink. As Turkey鈥檚 vast dam projects reduce downstream flows, Iraq is being forced into negotiations that go far beyond water, touching on security cooperation, trade routes and energy. The Global Jigsaw tells the story of how water became a geopolitical bargaining chip. Find out more about 麻豆社 Monitoring on our website: monitoring.bbc.co.uk/ Contributors: Dilay Yalcin, Mohammed al-Jumaily Producer: Dilay Yalcin, Barry Sadid Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

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