Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that as global power competition intensifies, water will become the most strategic and valuable resource of the future, overtaking oil and carbon-based fuels. He made the remarks on Thursday during a public event, emphasizing that climate change, drought, population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are putting increasing pressure on global water resources.

Erdogan highlighted that 2.2 billion people currently lack access to safe drinking water, and according to the World Water Development Report, nearly 6 billion people may face shortages of clean water by 2050. He noted that only 2.5 percent of the world’s total water supply is fresh water, while the global population has risen from 3 billion in 1960 to over 8 billion today, with rainfall levels remaining unchanged.

He warned that as demand for clean water rises, rapid consumption and pollution are accelerating the depletion of water resources, making water a visible factor in regional armed conflicts.