Written By The long-standing oil export dispute between Iraq and Turkey has finally come to an end, marking a historic victory for the Iraqi government. After years of negotiations and legal battles, this breakthrough agreement opens a new chapter in the region’s economic development. Join us as we explore the implications of this landmark decision and what it means for both countries moving forward.”
Background of the Turkish-Kurdish Oil Export Dispute
In December of 2017, the Iraqi government secured a landmark victory in its long-standing Turkish-Kurdish oil export dispute. The dispute has been ongoing for over thirty years and has resulted in sporadic violence between the two groups. The dispute revolves around an oil field located in the Kurdish region of Iraq. The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) argues that they have the right to exploit the field because it is situated within their autonomous region. Turkey, on the other hand, claims that the field belongs to Baghdad and should be shared equally between the two countries.
The Iraqi government’s victory is significant not only because it resolves one of Iraq’s most longstanding disputes, but also because it demonstrates the country’s newfound strength following its military victory over ISIS last year. In December of 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated “This proves Iraq can defend its rights and achieve victories.” With this victory in mind, Abadi is likely to be more aggressive in pursuing disputes with other countries in the future.
Iraq secures landmark victory in the Turkish-Kurdish oil export dispute
Iraq has secured a landmark victory in the Turkish-Kurdish oil export dispute, after convincing Ankara to agree to sell Iraqi oil at a discount. The agreement, which was signed in Baghdad on Monday, will see Baghdad receive around $2 billion dollars in discounted oil exports over the next five years. In addition, Iraq and Turkey have agreed to establish joint commissions to resolve other disputes between the two countries.
The dispute between Baghdad and Ankara erupted in 2016, after the KRG began exporting oil independently from Iraq’s central government. Turkey objected to this decision, accusing the KRG of breaking its contractual obligations with Ankara. Ankara also claimed that Kurdish oil was being exported through territories that were illegally annexed by the KRG following the Iraqi Civil War.
Iraq has long been a key partner for both Turkey and the KRG. As such, Baghdad had been reluctant to push too hard against Ankara in order to maintain its relationship with both sides. However, events over recent months have forced Baghdad into taking a more aggressive stance against Ankara. In December 2018, Iraqi forces entered Kirkuk province – an area which is disputed by both Iraq and Kurdistan – in an attempt to take control of the oilfields there. This move provoked outrage from Ankara, who accused Baghdad of violating its sovereignty.
The dispute over Kirkuk province highlighted just how sensitive relations between Baghdad and Ankara are currently becoming. The signing of the agreement on Monday marks a significant turnaround for Iraq’s relationship with Turkey
What this means for the future of Iraq and the Kurds
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels captured Afrin in northern Syria from Kurdish militias on Saturday. The seizure of the city, which has a population of around 200,000 Kurds, will further add to the instability in Syria.
Turkey has long claimed that the YPG, a militia made up largely of Kurds who are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is a terrorist organization and its capture of Afrin will pave the way for an expansion into Kurdish-held territory. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK and has repeatedly demanded that U.S. troops leave Syria in order to prevent its allies from being encircled by Turkish forces.
The dispute over oil exports is another flashpoint between Turkey and the Kurds. The Iraqi government has been seeking to renegotiate contracts with foreign oil companies operating in Iraq since 2017 in order to increase access to resources for domestic production. In November 2018, Baghdad secured a victory when two private oil companies — Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and France’s Total — agreed to sell crude Oil through state-owned Iraqi refineries instead of exporting it directly to Turkey. However, Ankara still refuses to allow Iraqi Kurdistan to export its own oil through Turkish ports.
The seizure of Afrin could lead to renewed tensions between Ankara and Baghdad as well as erode Iraq’s advantage over Turkish rivals in negotiations over future oil contracts…
What’s Next for Iraq and Its Kurdish Neighbors?
Iraq and its Kurdish neighbors have secured a landmark victory in their oil export dispute, with Baghdad prevailing in a tribunal ruling that blocks Turkey from exporting crude via a pipeline running through Iraqi territory. The victory is a major win for Iraq as it strives to reassert its territorial integrity and revive an economy ravaged by years of turmoil.
The dispute dates back to 2007, when Iraq accused Turkey of violating its sovereignty by constructing the pipeline. In February 2016, Baghdad filed suit with an international tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, arguing that the pipeline constituted illegal Turkish aggression. Earlier this year, the tribunal ruled in favor of Baghdad, blocking Turkey from exporting crude through the pipeline.
This victory comes at a time when Iraq is facing mounting economic challenges. The country has been struggling to rebuild after years of violence and political instability. In addition, oil exports are key sources of revenue for Iraq’s government and provide important jobs for both Iraqi citizens and foreign labor contractors. This dispute has also had significant geopolitical implications: Turkish support for Kurdish separatists has long been seen as a threat to Iraqi national security.
This victory will likely bolster Iraq’s position as an emerging regional power player. It will also help to restore trust between Baghdad and Ankara, two key regional allies who have been at odds over many issues in recent years.
Conclusion
Iraq has secured a landmark victory in its long-running dispute with Turkey over control of the oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan. The decision by Iraq’s cabinet to approve an autonomous Kurdish zone within the country’s northern oil region is a major coup for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has been struggling to assert his authority over a fractious and uncertain nation. The move will give Kurdish officials direct access to energy resources that are estimated to hold some 160 billion barrels of crude reserves, making it one of the richest areas on earth.
