Transboundary cooperation in international basins: Clarification and experiences from the Orontes river basin agreement: Part 1

The Orontes River Basin is shared among Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. These waters are a critical resource for the development of these co-riparians in terms of both water and national security. This article presents the results of a comprehensive institutional study of river basin agreement and conflicts in the Orontes Basin since the 1920s. This article identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the different bilateral agreements between Turkey, Syria and Lebanon and the power balance relation between the co-riparians especially under the current political events.