The “Development Road” under construction is not only an infrastructure project but also a strategic initiative that strengthens economic cooperation between Turkey, Iraq, and other countries in the region.

Contributing to the stability and prosperity of Iraq and the entire region

At its core, the Development Road is a bid for sovereign economic transformation. As Prime Minister al-Sudani articulated at the inauguration, the project embodies a vision to transition Iraq “from a rent-based economy to one that actively supports agriculture, industry, and trade.” By leveraging Iraq’s geographic position as a potential land bridge, the initiative – comprising parallel rail lines and highways – aims to shorten travel times between Asia and Europe, positioning the country as a “major global logistical and commercial hub”. The strategic lynchpin is the Grand Faw Port, slated for completion in 2028, which is designed to be the largest in the Middle East and capable of receiving the world’s largest container ships, thereby reducing dependency on the constrained Umm Qasr port.

Regionally, the project has become a barometer for the shifting sands of Middle Eastern diplomacy. The quadripartite memorandum of understanding between Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates signals a coalition of interests that transcends traditional alignments. For Türkiye, the Development Road offers a strategic conduit to deepen its economic influence southward, anchor its role as an indispensable Eurasian transit node, and potentially offset competing corridors like the........

© New Eastern Outlook