Turkey–Iraq relations

Turkey–Iraq relations
Country1	Republic of Turkey
Country2	Republic of Iraq
Established	1926
Missions1	Embassy of Turkey in Baghdad
Missions2	Embassy of Iraq in Ankara

Turkey–Iraq relations are the multifaceted interactions between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq encompassing diplomacy, security, trade, energy, water management, and ethnic dynamics. Relations trace roots through the late Ottoman era and the interwar Treaty of Lausanne, evolving through Cold War alignments, the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 Iraq War, and the post-2003 reconfiguration of Middle Eastern politics.

Historical background

The late Ottoman imperial legacy links the Ankara Government (1920–1923), the Baghdad Vilayet, the Treaty of Sèvres, and the Treaty of Lausanne to modern ties between Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Turkey and the Iraqi monarchies such as the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq (1921–1958). The 1958 Iraqi coup d'état and subsequent Ba'athist ascendancy under Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and Saddam Hussein shifted relations toward regional rivalry involving the Kurdistan Democratic Party (Iraq) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War and the 1990–1991 Gulf War reshaped alignments with actors such as the United States Department of Defense, United Nations Security Council, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization observers influencing Turkey's posture toward Iraq.

Diplomatic relations and treaties

Formal ties institutionalized via early consular accords and the 1926 diplomatic exchange evolved into embassy-level relations headquartered at the Embassy of Turkey in Baghdad and the Embassy of Iraq in Ankara. Bilateral instruments include memoranda coordinated at summits like the Ankara Summit and meetings between leaders such as Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nouri al-Maliki, later Haider al-Abadi and Barham Salih. Multilateral frameworks such as the League of Nations successor organizations and interactions with the Arab League and the European Union have influenced treaty practice, while confidence-building dialogues have addressed issues raised at sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

Security and military cooperation

Security interactions pivot on cross-border counterinsurgency and counterterrorism cooperation targeting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the PKK. Turkey has conducted operations referenced by Turkish staff in coordination with Joint Chiefs of Staff (Turkey) doctrines and engaged with Iraqi counterparts from the Iraqi Armed Forces and the Popular Mobilization Forces. NATO ties and bilateral defense consultations have involved equipment transfers from firms such as Turkish Aerospace Industries and engagements with states like the United States of America and Russia over airspace incidents near the Kurdistan Region. Incidents such as clashes near Mosul and operations in the Sinjar area have drawn responses from United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and regional stakeholders including Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Economic and energy ties

Trade and investment link Turkish firms including TAV Airports Holding, Şişecam, and Halkbank with Iraqi ministries such as the Ministry of Oil (Iraq), and with autonomous administrations in the Kurdistan Region. Energy corridors such as the Iraq–Turkey Pipeline and the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline contextualize discussions with actors like BP (British Petroleum) and Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). Commercial hubs such as Basra and Erbil host Turkish contractors alongside Chinese firms including China National Petroleum Corporation, while projects funded by institutions like the Islamic Development Bank and private investors facilitate reconstruction after the Iraq War (2003–2011) and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Water resources and environmental issues

Hydropolitics centers on transboundary rivers Tigris and Euphrates, with upstream infrastructure such as the Ankara-built Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and dams including Atatürk Dam and Ilisu Dam affecting downstream flows to Iraq and marshlands like the Mesopotamian Marshes. Iraqi concerns voiced by officials and environmental NGOs such as Iraqi Marshlands Conservation intersect with Turkish policies shaped by agencies like the State Hydraulic Works (Turkey). Regional dialogues have involved the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and bilateral committees addressing salinization, irrigation, and the ecology of Marsh Arab communities.

Kurdish issue and cross-border dynamics

The Kurdish dimension links the Kurdistan Region institutions such as the Kurdistan Regional Government and parties like the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan with Ankara’s policy toward the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Cross-border mobility implicates border posts at Habur Border Gate and air links via Erbil International Airport, while incidents involving PKK cadres have prompted Turkish incursions into Kurdish-controlled zones and operations in locales including Qandil Mountains and Sinjar District. Regional actors including Iran, Syria, and international mediators such as United States Central Command and European Union External Action Service have influenced negotiations over autonomy, bilateral security arrangements, and the fate of displaced populations from ISIS campaigns.

Contemporary challenges and future outlook

Current tensions reflect disputes over water allocation, energy transit fees, and the legal status of Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, intersecting with reconstruction imperatives after Battle of Mosul (2016–17) and reconciliation efforts mediated by entities such as the United Nations. Prospects for cooperation hinge on expanded trade corridors, agreements between Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iraqi Council of Representatives, confidence-building with the Kurdistan Regional Government, and coordination with external powers like United States Department of State and Russian Federation to manage competition. Sustainable outcomes will likely require multilateral dispute resolution mechanisms, integrated water-sharing compacts, and enhanced linkages among energy companies, humanitarian agencies, and parliamentary interlocutors in Ankara and Baghdad to stabilize the wider Middle East.

Category:Foreign relations of Turkey Category:Foreign relations of Iraq