Weaponizing Water: The Next Big Security Crisis?

Water, essential for human survival, is increasingly weaponized in geopolitical conflicts and targeted in cyberattacks, posing a significant security threat exacerbated by climate change and rising freshwater demand. This manipulation, from historical tactics like poisoning aqueducts to modern acts such as destroying dams and controlling water resources by groups like ISIL, underscores the alarming trend of exploiting water as a tool of power. Contemporary incidents, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Yemen’s water crisis, highlight the devastating consequences of water weaponization on civilian populations and regional stability. Factors such as climate change, population growth, geopolitical tensions, and technological vulnerabilities contribute to this escalating crisis, intensifying humanitarian crises, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions. Addressing this threat requires a multi-faceted approach encompassing strengthened cybersecurity, international cooperation through treaties, and investments in climate-resilient infrastructure to safeguard access to clean and reliable water, recognizing it as a cornerstone of global security.

This commentary, written by BIPSS research assistant Nabib Bin Zahid, explores the mounting crisis of water and tactics used to weaponize water in times of warfare. He also explores some case studies of relevant incidents of such activities.