The US and Mexico’s escalating conflict over water shortages
A long-standing dispute between the United States and Mexico over water-sharing obligations is intensifying, as prolonged drought conditions, rising temperatures, and shifting rainfall patterns place unprecedented pressure on key river systems along the border. At the heart of the issue is a complex binational agreement that governs the allocation of water from the Rio Grande and the Colorado River—lifelines for agricultural production, municipal supply, and ecological balance in both nations.The 1944 Water Treaty, a historic agreement finalized over 80 years prior, stipulates the allocation of water from these rivers. According to its provisions, the United States supplies Mexico with water…