Erdoğan warns water will replace oil as source of future conflict

Struggle for oil and carbon fuels in the past century will be replaced by water in the coming period as competition for power is intensifying, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. Attending an opening ceremony for new facilities at the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Erdogan said factors such as climate change, drought, population growth, urbanization, and industrialization increase pressure on water resources.

Global water crisis

He pointed out that while 2.2 billion people globally cannot access healthy drinking water, the World Water Development Report predicts approximately six billion people will not reach enough clean water by 2050. In a century where competition for power is intensifying across all sectors, water remains the most strategic and valuable resource as a key component of production and energy, he stressed.

Conflict warning

The president said the signs of this struggle are already visible in the armed conflicts taking place around the region. He stressed that only 2.5% of the world's total water supply consists of freshwater, and the world's population has grown from three billion in 1960 to over eight billion today, while rainfall amounts remain unchanged. As the need for clean water sources grows, water resources are unfortunately dwindling rapidly due to the effects of rapid consumption and pollution, Erdogan added.

Strategic significance

Erdoğan's warning comes amid ongoing regional conflicts following the US-Israeli offensive on Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets and highlighted the strategic importance of resource security. The president has previously emphasized water security as a national priority, with Türkiye investing in dam and irrigation projects to enhance water independence.