Genesis, evolution and prospects mesut yegen turkey domestic policy abstract this paper examines the resolution process in turkey since its inception until today. The baghdad pact 19581990 the saadabad pact iraqi regime and its foreign politics changed after the coup detat in 1958. If turkey manages to continue with improved relations with iraq, iraqi kurds and its own domestic kurdish population, then it will have overcome the single most important obstacle to its stability since the inception of the republic in 1923. The future of the iraqi kurds david pollock press exposure, these and other journalists maintain, has in a few instances resulted in positive change. Deputy secretary of state john sullivan on a recent trip to. The prospect of a kurdish nation the kurdistan region of iraq kri emerging as an autonomous region within iraq and possibly an independent state was viewed as an existential threat to the unitary nature of the republic of turkey. Turkish pm and one of the strongest supporters of turkeys relations with iraq, ahmet davutoglu insisting on investing in iraq. The usiraqi relations 19452003 paiman ramazan ahmad university of raparin kurdistan region iraq abstract this paper aims to elaborate the usiraqi relations though out the course of their relations.
A new era on turkeyiraq relations turkish think tank. The embassy in baghdad was closed january 12, 1991, following iraqs invasion of kuwait, the application of international sanctions against iraq, and the buildup of military forces in the region. Indiairaq relations india and iraq have throughout enjoyed enduring political, economic and cultural ties. Throughout the war, iran was not able to use the persian gulf to channel its urgent needs. On the macro level, both the us and turkey want a unified, democratic iraq at peace internally and with. Turkey in the geopolitics of natural gas harvard university. Iraq soils had physically become us soil and turkey always needed permission of the us to launch a military operation in iraq 29799 limited relations with iraqi kurdish leaders, military operations, and very limited relations with central government in the 1990s became useless. Basra was for the arab world not only the market par excellence of the indian merchandise including textiles, spices, foodgrains and other. Other proposed legislation would condition turkeys. Iraqs observance of arms restrictions became the subject of international controversy in the 1990s and early 2000s. Home foreign policy regions middle east and north africa iran turkey. Today, the united states and iraq both consider themselves as strategic partners, given the american political and military involvement after the. From rapidly growing business and oil deals to numerous highlevel diplomatic visits, ankara is in the midst of an unprecedented rapprochement with the iraqi kurds, one that has come largely at the expense of the maliki government in baghdad. Relations with iraq united states department of state.
Turkeys role in the middle east united states institute. Turkey should never break the ties with iraqi opportunities of business. A resurgent syrian regime will strengthen baghdad and its ties to iran, while oppo. Turkey in the geopolitics of natural gas summary this paper outlines the role of turkey as an increasingly more important natural gas consuming country while at the same time strategically located as a transit country between major consuming areas in the eu and suppliers in the middle east, central asia and russia. Turkey iran relations as two neighboring countries, turkey and iran share 560 kms long border, unchanged for almost 400 years. There is a wider lens through which to view usiraq relations and the longterm legacy of 2003. Iraniraq relations congressional research service 3 was released in december 2009 by the united states to help foster reintegration of shiite militias into the political process in iraq.
A longterm perspective first, kurdish separatism is a real possibility in both syria and iraq and is a more distant if just as divisivethreat in turkey and iran. In coordination with the global coalition to defeat isis, the united states assisted iraqs efforts to achieve the december 2017 milestone of liberating the country from isis. Turkey begins operation in iraqs sinjar, erdogan says. The army took control of the government, prepared and constituted a new, more democratic, constitution, then. Political instability in iraq global conflict tracker. For decades, the roughly twentynine million kurds living in turkey, iran, iraq and syria were regarded primarily as a threat to the territorial integrity of those states and thus to the stability of the middle east. Pdf in 1997 turkey and syria were on the brink of war, engaged in a very real power struggle. Iraq borrowed heavily in order to wage the war against iran. The three provinces that form modern iraqbasra, baghdad, and mosulwere part of the ottoman empire and had been ruled well and badly by the turks and their sunni arab cohorts for. In addition, a recent unhcr report on access and residency requirements in iraq has been used as a source on the topic. Relations worsened with the onset of the war, when turkey supported the embargo against iraq. To turkish officials, the two countries have been a central source of regional instability since at least the iraniraq war, which lasted from 19801988.
Operations mission usom activities and highlights the severe obstacles faced by the mission and the success that was achieved. Turkeyiran relations and the syrian dilemma middle east. Working with the turks on iraqi issues can be frustrating and worse. The state of turkish relations with syria, armenia, egypt, russia, iran and iraq clearly demonstrates ankaras confused foreign policy on erdogans watch. India and iraq have throughout enjoyed enduring political, economic and cultural ties. Till 1970s era, the two countries exhibited enormously cordial relations. After the war, iraqs economy was in very bad shape. While this report examines the change in relations and what led to the improvements, it also argues that grounds remain for continued concern, as sustained attention is needed on the eve of the u. Mar 07, 2016 the leadership of modern turkey has historically viewed its relations with the iraqi kurds through a traditional security lens. Turkey woos iraqi provincial leaders to rekindle relations.
Turkey now faces a host of new challenges, from a resurgent pkk to the crisis in syria and growing competition with iran. The majority, though, used turkey only as a transit country. Iraq before the 1991 gulf war, turkey had better relations with iraq than with any other middle eastern neighbor except jordan, and the two frequently cooperated on the kurdish problem. Explain why turkey wants to be a member of the european union eu and why it has not been accepted. Zebari said turkey demanded that iraq hand over senior members of the pkk sheltered in iraq, a request he said was impossible to fulfil. Library of congress federal research division country profile. After an assessment of three distinct phases of the process, it seeks to explain what stimulated the turkish state and the pkk to launch the. Iraqs cabinet on tuesday authorized prime minister haider alabadi to ask for u. The kurdistan regional government in iraq enjoys strong u. It also attempts to analyze the historical relations between the two countries according to the regional events that happened in the past. Relations of kurdistan region of iraq with foreign states and organizations are conducted by the kurdistan region. Irans role as a regional player will be among the key issues as abadi meets trump and other us officials in washington.
Political stability and a rapidly developing economy have given the krg the opportunity to pursue a foreign policy independent from the central governments. The recent controversy over turkeys military presence in iraq while different from previous incidents in some aspects has one major aspect that is being repeated. The state department will take sole ownership of u. Turkey s ties with the kurdistan regional government in northern iraq have reached a level unimaginable a few years ago. Iraq and syria, and to the common borders, there are many issues that take the form of security cooperation and coordination in.
Until iraq resolves domestic disagreements over energy, internal borders, and power sharing, erbil and the sunnis will continue advancing their own international agendas and iraq will lack a coherent foreign policy. Embassy in baghdad and the severing of diplomatic relations, 1991. In 1990, iraq invaded kuwait after accusing kuwait of conspiring to. Diplomatic relations between turkey and iraq by yasin tokat. In addition to the turkish embassy in tehran, turkey has consulates general in tabriz, orumiyeh and mashhad. In 1914, when britains mesopotamian expeditionary force entered basra, iraq did not exist as a state. In iraqs relations with the outside world, oil has been both a blessing and a curse, although mostly a curse. Outline irans physical geography and how it has used natural resources for economic gain. Any attempt to change mosuls demographic composition would be a direct threat to turkey s security, analysts say. Old trends and future possibilities january 17, 2017.
Turkey, unable to motivate iraq to revive the two countries dormant relations in many fields, appears to have resorted to unusual tactics that might best be labeled provincial diplomacy. Learn about the political instability in iraq, where it began, and the latest developments with the center for preventive actions global conflict tracker. Today, the kurdish issue, ironically, unites more than divides. A longterm perspective first, kurdish separatism is a real possibility in both syria and iraq and is a more. The united states is committed to expanding its economic and cultural partnership with iraq, said u. Foreign relations of turkeystatecollapsed to show the template collapsed, i. The us mission in iraq remains dedicated to building a strategic partnership with iraq and the iraqi people. They cite as a prime example the closing last year of akri aqra prison, an unacknowledged detention center operated by krg security forces, which reporters had.
How the postisis vacuum in iraq will test relations between. The aftermath of the referendum caused a major collapse of both kri oil exports and revenues, and, although there has been some recovery. Ties between the two states had been severely damaged by the iraniraq war from 19801988, but since 2003, iran has seized on the fractured political and vulnerable security situation in iraq and has worked vigorously to extend its economic and political reach using both diplomatic and military means. Future of iraqus relations content eng final draft. Analyze the events from the past to draw up a general theory which can with humility foresee the consequence of a given action is the goal of international relations study. A crossborder operation would have serious implications for turkishiraqi relations and disastrous consequences for both countries and the region, according to zebari. Iraqs relations with the ottoman empire and germany would provoke various crises in iraqi relations with great britain throughout the 20th century. Developments in damascus will affect iraq s foreign relations. Short of the independence of northern iraq, this outcome was long thought by turks to be the worst possible outcome for turkey.
The fall of saddam hussein in 2003 sparked a new era in iraniraq relations. How the postisis vacuum in iraq will test relations between turkey and iran. Turkey, which had once spearheaded opposition to the kurdistan regional government. Turkeys new engagement in iraq united states institute of. Turkeys ambassador in baghdad, fatih yildiz, has been traveling to southern iraqi provinces to meet local administrators and attend local events. Continuing to present evidence of iranian material assistance to shiite militias. On the situation of the kurds in iraq, syria and turkey. Besides, it explains why the usiraq relations had gone under difficult times in detail. In the late 2000s, seeking greater influence in iraq and syria as part of thenturkish prime minister ahmet davutoglus policy of strategic depth, relations between the two countries soured as. Irna the visit of the iranian president hassan rouhani to iraq is a turning point in bilateral relations as cooperation between the two neighboring nations could be seen as a perfect example of establishment of friendly and brotherly relations, irans ambassador to iraq iraj. Relations between iraq and turkey have been cordial and cautious since iraq became independent of ottoman suzerainty after wwi, when british forces invaded and occupied the country. Oct 25, 20 turkey and iraq, both concerned by the rise of al qaeda in syria, said on friday their strained relations were improving and they would cooperate more closely to limit the spillover from syrias. Iranianturkish relations deepen with shared regional goals. Following the defeat of isildaesh in iraq and the restoration of sovereign control of all its territory in late 2017, nato scaled up its training and advising efforts in iraq at the.
Diplomatic relations between iraq and the united states began when the u. This council on foreign relations sponsored independent task force report examines the various trends in turkey and assesses their consequences for u. Until 2003, us policy toward iraq had been determined by three main strategic goals. Mission in iraq is dedicated to our enduring strategic partnership with the government of iraq and the iraqi people. Though no exact count exists, the regions roughly 36 million kurds make up slightly less than 10 percent of the population in iran and syria, and between 1520 percent of the population in iraq and turkey. Understand how iraq is divided ethnically and by the branches of islam. Iraq actors of protection november 2018 en references within this document are to the respective sections of these coi reports. These policies are separate from and often in conflict with those pursued by baghdad.
Iran, being the first country to recognize creation of pakistan in 1947, has always supported pakistans stance on kashmir issue. Whether iraqs new political culture endures and becomes a positive model of postauthoritarian transitions, many iraqis believe the united. The december 2011 departure of us troops from iraq marked a. Northern iraq is an example of how quickly separatist movements have stepped back through the coordination of regional countries. We will then present the new international relations ideas which were borne or reinforced by failure of the iraq war. Nato and iraq are engaged in political dialogue and practical cooperation aimed at developing the capacity of iraqs security forces, its defence and security institutions, and its national defence academies. Download pdf turkeys ties with the kurdistan regional government in northern iraq have reached a level unimaginable a few years ago. Iraniraq relations, perfect role model for regional states. Pdf this article examines turkish iranian relations in the 2000s, when the two countries initiated an unprecedented rapprochement. Despite turkeys insistence and friendly warnings, the barzani administration, which issued a referendum on independence, lost its.
Now that the iran iraq war was over and iraq has choosen to continue war fronts with kuwait, the us has finally lost support for iraq under leader, saddam hussein. Basra was for the arab world not only the market par excellence of the indian merchandise including textiles, spices, foodgrains and other commodities but also of the famous pearl trade that flourished mainly through the. Because the us is persistently trying to create a kurdish state, violating the territorial integrity of four countries in the region turkey, iran, iraq and syria. Succinctly stated, turkeys relations with iraq and iran, the largest of its numerous neighboring countries have not been easy. Iraq had the uss support up into this point in which the iraq army invaded kuwait starting the persian golf war. Irna iraniraq relations are cordial and strong and nothing can weaken such cooperation, iranian first vice president said on thursday.
First, kurdish separatism is a real possibility in both syria and iraq and is a more distant if just as divisivethreat in turkey and iran. The impact of iraq on turkeyus relations research portal. Turkey relations, 2 the potential s400 deal and its implications for u. Summarize iraqs role in the persian gulf war and the iraq war in 2003. Nato activity in turkey, 3 possible alternatives to the s400, and 4 various scenarios for the f35 program with or without turkeys participation.
Turkey has turned its face to islamic geography with akp government and akp wants to prove that it. So, turkey had been deadlocked in iraq and needed a new. In other ways, the new administration has signaled that iraq is not the centerpiece of us foreign policy, but that its stability and prospects for success remain important for a wide range of american interests in the region and beyond. They thought that they would be able to move forward with the implementation of this plan, while simultaneously maintaining good relations with turkey. Turkishus relations wont recover until us drops greater. The krgs primary body for directing its foreign affairs is the department of foreign relations dfr.
Between 1991 and 2001, it became apparent that the unintended economic, political and strategic consequences of the conflict in the gulf had disproportionately affected turkeys interests, creating serious dilemmas for turkeyus relations, while both countries closely cooperated on northern iraq, albeit with different motivations. The rapidly shifting regional constellation wrought by the arab revolutions and the u. History of iraqusa relationship timeline timetoast. From rapidly growing business and oil deals to numerous highlevel diplomatic visits, ankara is in the midst of an unprecedented rapprochement with the iraqi kurds, one that has come largely at the expense of the. The relations between pakistan and iran have seen many prospects of convergence and divergence. Forces, and related issues introduction on march 1, 2003, the turkish parliament, in a close vote, failed to pass a resolution authorizing the united states to deploy troops to turkish territory to open a northern front in a war against iraq. Iraq internal mobility february 2019 en coi report. Iraq relations enter a new era center for american. Turkey, iraq eye closer cooperation on syria as relations.