There is a surge in connectivity projects across the globe and multiple trans-continent-region-country projects are mushrooming. These multimodal transportation corridors help overcome the insecurities of the shipping routes which in recent times have turned vulnerable and been under attack by the pirates (Gulf of Aden), terrorism (Houthis missile-drone attacks against shipping) and navigational accidents such as the grounding of the MV Ever Green in the Suez Canal.

At another level, “converging interests and economic integration” are the drivers encouraging countries to transform the borders from “conflicts to development”. This is not to suggest that geopolitical-geostrategic contestations, between and among states, has been pushed to the backburner; instead in some cases the rigid neighbours have prevented trans-boundary connectivity be it energy pipelines or trade.

In fact majority of mega projects are mired in politico-strategic contestation. They offer their clients best options (loans, grants, assurances of development, jobs, etc.) which in some cases turn into ‘debt traps’. Be that as it may, the Belt and Road Initiative led by China, the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that links India-Iran-Russia through the Caspian Sea, and the India Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) linking India with Europe through UAE, Saudi Arabia Jordan, Israel and the European Union, are some of the mega projects making headlines. These attract billions of dollars in investments and therefore only rich nations have committed investments.

Smaller nations too have positioned infrastructure creation high on their national priority programmes and see these are the catalyst for development. In this context, Iraq, which is coming out of the war ravages, has announced plans to build the US$ 17 billion Development Road project to link the Persian Gulf with Türkiye and thence to Europe. This 1200 kilometers long Iraqi - Türkiye economic corridor has the potential to upgrade country’s transport infrastructure (ports, roads and rail) and create 250,000 jobs.

The Iraqi segment of the project involves “Faw Grand Port, Dry Canal (Iraqi Silk Way), and the connection of the Faw Grand Port to the Umm Qasr Port via immersed tunnels”. The first ship is expected to dock at the Faw Grand Port in 2025 and the Dry Canal is expected to be fully operational in 2029. This new trade route will be an alternate to the Red Sea – Suez Canal as also reduce travel time by 20-25 days. Faw Grand Port is also expected to be the largest port in West Asia (90 berths) and bigger than Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates (67 berths) and will handle 7.5 million containers annually.

Turkey, Iraq’s immediate northern neighbour, has shown interest in the Development Road project. In September 2023, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had emphasised the importance of the project and labelled it as “a comprehensive initiative” involving Persian Gulf countries, Iraq and Türkiye, and announced that the United Arab Emirates President (Sheikh) Mohammed Bin Zayed (Al Nahyan) “proposed that preparations for this project be completed within '60 days' after putting it in writing.” The Development Road project also got a boost when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the chief backer of the project, announced that “there can be no corridor without Türkiye,” after the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, was flagged in September 2023 at the G-20 summit in New Delhi.

It is fair to list out the challenges that Iraq and Türkiye may confront in the Development Road project. As far as security of the project is concerned it is important to flag the threat posed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant political organization and armed guerrilla movement located in the Qandil Mountains in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. Turkey has pressganged Iraq against the PKK and take the threat more seriously. It proposed joint operations against the PKK for which a joint operation centre is being set up.

According to a Turkish source "the main purpose is very clear” given that the presence of the PKK has the potential to seriously threaten the Iraq Development Road Project,”. Erdogan has also announced that military “operations will continue until every inch of the mountains in northern Iraq that have become the source of terrorist actions... are secured.” The Development Road project could also help the two countries reach settlement over issues concerning flow of water and energy.

It is important to point out that Iran, a neighbour of both Iraq and Turkey, supports ‘covertly’ the PKK. This approach is driven by the Iranian desire to exercise influence over Iraq and its resources and keep Turkey at bay in Iraq. Besides, a large Turkish population who are a minority in Iran are a concern for Tehran. Iran too is building a strategic corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean via Syria that could also be connected to the Chinese BRI Middle East network.

Finally, Development Road project attracts a mix of political turmoil in the region, vulnerabilities arising from the PKK, Iranian political ambitions, and financial constraints. Further unforeseen delays and dampen the mood among stakeholders who remain skeptical of their investments and returns.

Dr. Vijay Sakhuja is associated with Kalinga International Foundation, New Delhi, and is Emeritus Professor of Research, SoA Center for Integrated Maritime Studies and Research (SOACIMSR), Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.