Obstacles to investment in joint fields between Iraq and neighboring countries and ways to address them

Abstract

The investment of the joint oil fields between Iraq and neighboring countries has economic, social and political importance. From an economic point of view, it preserves the oil wealth. Besides, it provides the state treasury with the expected revenues from the sale of oil and gas production - assuming that Iraq’s share specified by OPEC is adapted to production. From a social point of view, it absorbs part of the unemployment, but from a political point of view, the agreement of the two countries concerned to invest in these fields promotes stability and reduces tensions and mutual accusations. However, there are a number of obstacles that prevent this, the most important of which is the security situation in Iraq, the history of relations, and Iraq's non-acceptance of the demarcation of international borders, especially with Kuwait. As well as other obstacles such as financial and technical capabilities, on top of which is the weakness of strategic planning .