The challenges of rail linkage between Iraq and Kuwait and the opportunities for national alternatives (the port of Faw، the dry canal، and the link with the Belt and Road project as a model)"

Abstract

Decision-makers in each country work to define a list of internal and external interests، goals and threats to their countries according to the nature of their awareness of these interests، goals and threats.    Hence، Iraq is not an exception to this rule، and the process of evaluating its interests and the objectives of its foreign policy is subject to the pattern of awareness of decision-makers and the influencing forces in defining its basic interests، which often witness some kind of difference in defining them، evaluating their importance and determining the size of the threats they face. And among these interests and threats that have witnessed a difference in the assessment of their importance or danger is the railway connection with Kuwait or other countries، including Iran، At a time when some political forces and some personalities see the importance of the railway connection to Iraq، others، and with them the majority of the Iraqi people، see the danger of this connection to the interests of Iraq. In particular، its negative impact on the completion of the construction of the Grand Port of Faw and the dry canal، which are considered major national projects on which they are relied upon in creating a major development leap that mitigates the impact of the rentier impact of the economy and contributes to diversifying the national economy Especially when it is successful in linking with international trade projects، including the Chinese Belt and Road project، which will give Iraq an important economic-strategic advantage.