Turkey Urges Iraq to Ban PKK as Erdogan’s Visit Approaches
Turkey’s foreign minister has called on Iraq to designate the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, mirroring Turkey’s own stance. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made this plea during his visit to Baghdad, marking his first visit since assuming his position. The timing of his visit holds significance, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to arrive in Iraq soon, following rising tensions between Turkey and Kurdish fighters in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan.
Fidan emphasized the importance of not allowing the PKK to strain bilateral relations and referred to the group’s activities in Iraq as a challenge against Iraq’s sovereignty. He accused the PKK of occupying areas in Iraq and attempting to establish a terror corridor linking Iraq and Syria. Turkey has already established several military bases in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.
The PKK, which started its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984, seeks greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in Turkish Kurdistan, representing more than 22.5 million people. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish guerrillas. Many Kurds in Turkey and around the world openly support the PKK and its founder, Abdullah Ocalan, who is currently serving a life sentence after being captured by Turkish agents in 1999.
During Erdogan’s visit, discussions regarding the resumption of oil exports from northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region via the Ceyhan port in Turkey are expected. Disputes over sharing oil revenues have strained relations between Baghdad and Erbil, the seat of the Kurdish regional government. Turkey ceased oil shipments from the Kurdish region through Ceyhan in 2023 after a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. The ruling favored Baghdad and required Ankara to compensate for unauthorized oil exports from the Kurdish regional government.
Issues related to water resources and recent Quran burnings in Europe were also discussed between the foreign ministers. Iraq’s Foreign Affairs Minister Fuad Hussein expressed the significance of receiving its fair share of water, particularly given the country’s dependence on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which originate in Turkey. Both ministers emphasized unity against those who attack their sacred values.
Fidan’s visit to Iraq will continue with a planned meeting with the Barzanis in Erbil. The Barzanis are key allies of Turkey, and the meeting will include discussions with Prime Minister Massrour Barzani.
This step from Turkey to urge Iraq to ban the PKK demonstrates the escalating tensions in the region. As Erdogan’s visit looms, it remains to be seen what measures both sides will take to address the issues relating to the PKK, oil exports, water resources, and other concerns. The outcome of these discussions will undoubtedly shape the future dynamics between Turkey and Iraq.
