The geostrategic importance of the Grand AL¬¬-Faw port in Regional and International Balances

Abstract

Maritime outlets represent essential channels of communication between nations and the outside world, as the geopolitical and economic standing of states is closely linked to their ability to possess and utilize such outlets in strengthening their regional and international presence. Amid the accelerating global transformations and the growing interdependence of strategic, political, and economic interests, the Grand Al-Faw Port emerges as a strategic project whose impact extends beyond Iraq’s borders, positioning it as a pivotal hub within the global trade network and the world energy map. The port is not merely a maritime outlet; it constitutes a geopolitical instrument capable of connecting supply chains and trade routes between East and West, thereby reducing logistical costs, accelerating trade exchanges, and enhancing maritime security.

This research seeks to explore the geostrategic significance of the Grand Al-Faw Port within the framework of regional and international balances, by tracing its historical background and analyzing the underlying motivations behind its establishment. It also examines the economic, political, and security dimensions of the project—particularly its linkage to major initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Iraq’s Development Road Project—which together grant it a central position in the equation of global competition. Furthermore, the study discusses the internal challenges, including limited financing and delays in contractors’ commitments, alongside external challenges posed by parallel projects such as Kuwait’s Mubarak Port, the enduring strategic role of the Suez Canal, regional railway connection projects, and the implications of U.S.–China rivalry in the Arabian Gulf region.

The study concludes that the Grand Al-Faw Port cannot be confined to its economic function alone; rather, it represents a geostrategic lever for reshaping regional power dynamics and reinforcing Iraq’s role as a pivotal linkage in the global trade system. This, in turn, places Iraq before strategic opportunities and challenges that will shape the contours of its regional and international role in the coming decades.