On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the significance of “disputes over water sources” in fueling global crises.
“Many conflicts in Asia, America, northern Africa, and the Middle East stem from disputes over water sources,” Erdogan remarked at an agribusiness conference in Istanbul organized by Turkish state-run lender Ziraat Bank.
The president also discussed the negative impacts of climate change and the implications for water-related conflicts.
“Due to the adverse effects of climate change, water sources and reservoirs are becoming areas of conflict,” he stated.
Regarding the Black Sea grain pact that Turkey and the UN arranged between Russia and Ukraine in 2022,
“If it weren’t for the Black Sea grain deal, led by Turkey, many areas would have suffered from famine, particularly African countries,” he stated.
The president noted that Turkey “prevented the situation from getting worse by ensuring the passage of 33 million tons of grain through our straits” during the COVID-19 epidemic and the conflict in Ukraine.