Turkey has preferred to pursue a distant attitude and convergent policy towards the region where Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government was formed in 1990s. In that regard, the American soldiers’ withdrawal from Iraq has a certain role. After the US withdrawal, the fight against terrorism has gained another dimension. In that dimension, DAESH/ISIS has a significant role in terms of conducting brutal terror attacks and illegally controlling Iraqi and Syrian territories. Thus, it could be argued that Turkey’s distant attitude has been transformed into an active and divergent relations with Iraqi Kurds and Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government.
During the Global War on Terrorism, Turkey has been one of the countries exerting utter efforts together with the US. In that regard, Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (IKRG) has also fought against terrorism alongside international actors aiming to prevent terrorism and radicalization. Those allies coming under the same umbrella against terrorism has established close relations among themselves. The IKRG which was legally declared as an autonomous governing body in 2005 has confirmed its combat against terrorism. Until then, Turkey and IKRG relations has gained momentum.
When Turkey has started to conduct closer relations with IKRG and standing together against terrorist organizations, such as DAESH/ISIS, PKK and its off-shore PYD/YPG. In that regard, Masoud Barzani, which is the former KRG president, has a significant role in this closer and deeply bounded relations. He has tried to solve Kurdish question which may create a conflict and instability. Moreover, rise of DAESH/ISIL is another reason of a cooperation are between Turkey and IKRG because security interests of the two have been overlapped. The two have been focused on wiping out this terrorist organization. From the perspective of IKRG, they have been eagerness to establish complex interaction and deepen their relations. In other words, the relations between Ankara and Erbil have been deeply affected by the rise and emergence of DAESH/ISIS as well as Syrian civil war. Therefore, these two actors have been encouraged to combat against the terrorism, threat of DAESH/ISIS. Rapprochement between the two actors has paved the way for strong military cooperation. For example, Ankara sent troops to the Nineveh Province in order to educate and train Peshmergas in Northern Iraq against terrorist groups.[1] Moreover, Turkey treated more than 400 wounded member of Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the attack of DAESH/ISIS, in Kobane.[2] For example, the Suruç State Hospital which the place where the PYD members are being treated despite not serving civilians except in emergency cases.[3] Besides sending troops to Northern Iraq and treating wounded people, Turkey hosted people fleeing from Kobane in Nothern Iraq because of brutal policies of DAESH/ISIS. In other words, in the fight against DAESH/ISIS, Northern Iraq has been strongly supported by Ankara.
Turkey’s close relations with IKRG has a certain effect on not only bilateral tendencies but also global policies in terms of combat against terrorism, which is the mutual concern of Turkey and IKRG. In that regard, established cooperation between the two regional actors is important because this cooperation has a potential to change universal dynamics in the region. Under these circumstances, having closer relations with IKRG or the central government in Baghdad has not change Turkey’s priority which is saving Iraq’s territorial integrity and stability, on the one hand. Turkey is particularly against to the potential independence of IKRG which threatens the country’s territorial integrity. On the other hand, the two actors have cooperated on combating against terrorism by eradicating terrorist organizations. ISIL/DAESH is one of those disturbing and threatening Iraq and Turkey’s security. The two have prioritized the significant security concerns that are eradicating DAESH/ISIL and strengthening confrontation against PYD/YPG. Under these conditions, Ankara and Erbil has also strong and secure trade ties in order to conduct greater counter terrorism policies. As mentioned above, the energy is another dimension of relations between Turkey and IKRG which is a new supplier for Turkey. In the situation where Turkey has prioritized to be an energy hub and transit route, cooperation with IKRG does not have only one dimension. However, terrorism have a potential to have a negative effect on trade. For instance, as described by Ibrahim Khalil (Habur), cross border trade between Turkey and IKRG has been adversely affected and decreased the trade nearly 60% 2016.[4] Also, in northern Iraq, the PKK presence in Sinjar enabled significant amount of trade between the PKK and the PYD/ YPG which are the two terrorist organizations threatening Turkey’s security.[5] In that regard, IKRG has a deniable role in the prevention of the trade taking place between the two terror branches.
To conclude, Turkey and IKRG have a deep bound in terms of having same security threats which are posed by DAESH/ISID and YPG/PYD, as well as mutually beneficial economic relations. In other words, Northern Iraq has shared Turkey’s concerns on confrontation against the rise of extremist and radical terrorist groups. In that regard, the two have been in a strong cooperation through energy sector, security policies and mutual health implications. The cooperation between the two may be the key to consolidate stability and peace in the region.
[1] Jason Ditz, “Turkey Refuses to Withdraw Troops From Northern Iraq.” Anti War Website. December 7, 2015. Retrieved from, www.antiwar.com/2015/12/07/turkey-refuses-to-withdraw-troops-from-northern-iraq/
[2] “Barzani says Turkey sent arms to KRG, PYD members treated in Turkey”, Hurriyet DailyNews, 13 October 2014, retrieved from https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/barzani-says-turkey-sent-arms-to-krg-pyd-members-treated-in-turkey–72924
[3] “Barzani says Turkey sent arms to KRG, PYD members treated in Turkey”, Hurriyet DailyNews, 13 October 2014, retrieved from https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/barzani-says-turkey-sent-arms-to-krg-pyd-members-treated-in-turkey–72924
[4] PKK delegation in Sulaimani to mediate in PUK dispute,” Rudaw, 9 October 2016, http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/100920162
[5] Ustun, Kadir, and Lesley Dudden. “Turkey-KRG Relationship, Mutual Interest and Geopolitical Challenges.” SETA Analysis 31 (2017).
TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST DAESH/ISIL 