By normalising its ties with Iraq, Turkey has hoped to have Erbil and Baghdad exert greater pressure on the PKK, but the potential for Turkey to secure its desired influence in the north of the country is uncertain.
- Turkey-Iraq ties, already strained, came to a head over Baghdad’s call late last year for Turkey to leave its base at Bashiqa in Northern Iraq.
- Amid a policy of pursuing better relations with its neighbours, Turkey has moved to normalise ties with Iraq and hopes to see Baghdad and Erbil exert more pressure on the PKK
- Turkey has adopted a more multi-sectarian approach to its engagements in Iraq, pleasing Baghdad; what this mean will for its future influence in the north of the country is still uncertain.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim last week visited Baghdad and Erbil, as part of an effort to normalise Turkey-Iraq relations. The visit appears to have been successful and forms part of Turkey’s current foreign policy drive to restore good ties with its neighbours. Turkey-Iraq relations, already strained, reached boiling point late last year as…
To receive the full briefing, please click here to subscribe or become a CEFTUS member.
A basic subscription, starting from £20/month, entitles subscribers to daily news digests and weekly analytical briefings on current affairs in Turkey.
Basic membership, starting from £90/month, provides members with a subscription, other products, as well as access to all CEFTUS’ exclusive roundtable events, typically priced at £50/event.
To commission analytical work on Turkey, Iran, Iraq or Syria, or should you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]
12 January 2017
Photo credit: The Daily Beast