Turkish officials send mixed messages on Istanbul Canal—here's why

Türkiye’s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Istanbul Canal project on Thursday, addressing recent speculation over its future.

“We will definitely build the Istanbul Canal,” Uraloglu said, adding, “We have never given up; we are discussing the timing.”

His remarks reignited public debate in Türkiye, especially as they appeared to conflict with recent statements by Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum.

Turkish Minister Uraloglu speaks at an event — Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, speaking at the “Reaching and Accessing Türkiye 2053 Inter-University R&D Idea Competition” award ceremony held at the Information Technologies and Communication Authority on April 15, 2025. (AA Photo)

Speaking on Wednesday ahead of a parliamentary group meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Kurum stated that the canal project was not currently on the government’s agenda. “There is no item on our agenda regarding the Istanbul Canal. We have said this before,” he noted.

Kurum also dismissed suggestions that recent housing developments in the project’s vicinity were connected to the canal.

“Those residential units are part of a social housing initiative that we had previously promised during the election campaign,” he explained.

Murat Kurum speaks at a event — Türkiye’s Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum speaks at a key delivery ceremony for social housing units in Kocaeli, Türkiye, on April 18, 2025. (AA Photo)

“The purpose is to provide homes for citizens who do not currently own property. This project has absolutely no link—direct or indirect—to the Istanbul Canal.”

‘Istanbul Canal is a necessity for Türkiye’

Despite the seemingly contradictory tone, Minister Uraloglu’s comments were ultimately consistent with Kurum’s in terms of current priorities. “It is not on today’s agenda,” Uraloglu said, before emphasizing that the canal remains a long-term objective.

“But when the time comes and the right financing is secured, we will certainly move forward with it,” he added. “We are not discussing the Istanbul Canal at the moment, nor do we believe it is the right time to do so. The Istanbul Canal is a necessity for Türkiye, and we will carry it out at the right time.”

Erdogan visits Istanbul Canal bridge site with ministers — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspects the Sazlidere Bridge construction site, part of the Istanbul Canal project, accompanied by Ministers Murat Kurum (L) and Abdulkadir Uraloglu (R), in Istanbul on Feb. 27, 2025. (IHA Photo)

The Istanbul Canal is a planned 45-kilometer (28-mile) artificial waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, designed to ease congestion in the Bosphorus and strengthen Türkiye’s role in global trade.

Announced by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2011 and officially launched in 2021 with the Sazlidere Bridge groundbreaking, the canal is considered Türkiye’s most ambitious infrastructure project.

Map showing Istanbul Canal route between two seas — A simplified map shows the planned route of the Istanbul Canal, stretching from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara on the European side of Istanbul, accessed on April 13, 2025. (Map via wikipedia.org)

The route follows the Kucukcekmece Lake–Sazlidere Dam–eastern Terkos corridor on Istanbul’s European side. With a base width of 275 meters and a depth of 20.75 meters, it will accommodate large tankers up to 275 meters in length and 145,000 tons in capacity.

Beyond maritime traffic relief, the project aims to enhance safety, support logistics and tourism, and integrate with major infrastructure like Istanbul Airport.

Of the 453 million square meters allocated for development, 30 million will be occupied by the canal, with the remainder planned for transport, housing, and green areas. The total cost is estimated at $15 billion.