الموانئ العراقية المحيطة بخور عبد الله

وأهميتها في تكامل النشاط البحري

Abstract

Received: 2026 / 01 / 11
Revision: 2026 / 02 / 05
Accepted: 2026 / 02 / 23
Published: 2026 / 09 / 30

The Iraqi ports located along Khor Abdullah acquire their strategic importance from their position as Iraq’s primary maritime gateway to the Arabian Gulf. Given Iraq’s limited coastline, these ports constitute the country’s only effective access to international waters, thereby forming the backbone of its foreign trade system. Historically, they have functioned as vital arteries for the movement of oil exports, commercial goods, and strategic imports, directly influencing the stability of the national economy and Iraq’s integration into global trade networks

Beyond their economic dimension, the geographical location of these ports within the narrow and sensitive waterway of Khor Abdullah has endowed them with significant geopolitical and security implications. The waterway represents not merely a commercial passage but a strategically contested maritime corridor shared with Kuwait. As a result, port development, navigation rights, and maritime demarcation have become intertwined with broader issues of sovereignty, regional balance of power, and national security.

This strategic reality has rendered the Iraqi ports in Khor Abdullah central to the formulation of Iraq’s maritime doctrine and defense planning. At the same time, their location has contributed to the complexity of Iraqi–Kuwaiti relations, particularly in the aftermath of regional conflicts and the subsequent boundary agreements. Thus, the importance of these ports transcends their economic function, extending into the realms of political strategy, diplomatic negotiation, and regional security dynamics