Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024

Iraqi, Syrian Kurds divided over Erdogan’s election battle

Iraqi, Syrian Kurds divided over Erdogan’s election battle

Turkiye’s presidential election is being anxiously watched by Kurds in Syria and Iraq as economic interests compete with fears of a regional military escalation against some Kurdish groups.
The long-running and deadly conflict between Ankara and militant groups from the ethnic Kurdish minority has spilled across the borders of both Iraq and Syria.

But Turkiye is also a major economic partner, especially for northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish province which has long exported oil through a pipeline that runs through Turkiye and has trade ties worth billions.

“Economically, there are mutual benefits,” said Iraqi political scientist Mohamed Ezzedine.

Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having governed for 20 years, has fostered key strategic links with Iraqi Kurdistan’s President Nechirvan Barzani who has been in power for three decades.

After the first round of elections, as votes were still being counted, Barzani called Erdogan, the Turkish “reis” or chief, to express “confidence and optimism” he would defeat challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

But some Kurds in Iraq and across the border in Syria fear an Erdogan victory will see a military escalation in their home regions.

Fighting between Ankara’s army and Kurdish Workers’ Party or PKK militants from Turkiye has for decades spilled over into Iraqi Kurdistan, a rugged mountain region where both sides operate military bases — with civilians often caught in the crossfire.

In northeast Syria, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units or YPG have established a semi-autonomous administration amid the chaos of the long-running civil war, and the group is backed by the US as part of an anti-terror coalition.

Ankara, however, considers them an extension of the PKK, which is labeled a terrorist group by Turkiye and its key Western allies, and has waged successive military campaigns against them.

Despite the conflict’s impact in Iraqi Kurdistan, the region also benefits from its neighbor, with trade ties worth an estimated $12 billion in 2022.

Many local businesses would like to keep things the way they are.

“Since Erdogan became president, we have been satisfied,” said Ahmed Krouanji, who runs a shop in Irbil’s market.

“There is a lot of trade with Turkiye, the economic situation has improved.”

Others express views reflecting solidarity with Kurds across the border.

An Erdogan victory “is not in the interests of the Kurds of Turkiye,” said Ali Khodr, a man aged in his 30s.

Turkiye’s leading pro-Kurdish party, the People’s Democratic Party, denounces Ankara’s persecution of its Kurdish minority and backs Kilicdaroglu.

But the only consolation for the president’s opponents after first-round voting that delivered the incumbent a comfortable lead, was that for the first time, Erdogan has been forced into a runoff.

Over two decades, Irbil’s leaders have forged close ties with the Turkish president, who receives Nechirvan Barzani and his cousin, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, on their regular visits to Ankara.

“The government of Kurdistan has always tried to have good relations with Turkiye, which is their gateway to the rest of the world,” said Ezzedine. “This affinity was built on economic foundations.”

For years, direct sales of crude to Turkiye, without approval from Iraq’s federal government, were the economic lifeblood of Kurdistan.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Global Trials and Tensions: The Stories Reshaping International Dynamics
South Korea's Presidential Office Raided Amid Allegations of Martial Law Plan
Navigating Uncertainty: Israel's Calculated Engagement with a Changing Syria
The Illusion of Innocence: How Bashar and Asma al-Assad Deceived the Media
Polarization: The Word That Unites a Divided Era
The Obsession That Could Divide: GB News and Its Singular Focus on UK Muslims
Anatomy of Regime Change: The Key Players in Syria's Tumultuous Fall
Syria After Assad: A Pyrrhic Victory with Uncertain Horizons
The Day After Assad: Can Syria Steer Clear of Libya's Pitfalls?
Iranian Embassy in Damascus Attacked Amidst Rising Tensions
Geopolitical Chess: Trump's Reflections on Russia's Waned Syrian Influence
Syria's New Chapter: A Historic Shift and the Hopes for Peace
A New Dawn in Damascus: Challenges of a Post-Assad Transition
A New Dawn in Syria: The Flag That Signals Change
Lone Wolf or Symptom? Unpacking the Insider Attack in Yemen
Keir Starmer's Gulf Gambit: Balancing Diplomacy and Principles
Dubai Hosts Largest Middle East AI Summit with Innovative Challenges
UAE’s Quantum Leap: Pioneering the Future of Computing
Balancing the Final Frontier: The New Asteroid Discovery and Our Global Priorities
New Asteroid Discovery Highlights International Collaboration in Space Exploration
UAE's Ambitious Leap into Space Research
Benralizumab: A Breakthrough in Asthma Treatment After 50 Years
Benralizumab: A Breakthrough Decades in the Making
From Desert Dromedaries to Cutting-Edge Medicine: The Advent of Nanobodies
Cosmic Wonders and Earthly Breakthroughs: A Week of Celestial and Scientific Marvels
Dark Energy's Dance: Revisiting Cosmic Constants
A Temporary Release: The Fragile Freedom of Iran's Narges Mohammadi
OpenAI and Anduril: Charting AI's Path in Modern Warfare
Seoul in Turmoil: Yoon Suk Yeol’s Martial Law Blunder Ignites Political Upheaval
Taliban Bans Afghan Women from Medical Training Amid Health Crisis
Syrian Rebels Make Major Gains in Aleppo
World Court to Assess Global Legal Responsibilities on Climate Change
UK Intelligence Chief Cautions: Iran's Nuclear Aspirations Present Worldwide Danger
Hezbollah Chief Declares 'Great Victory' Against Israel
Hamas Delegation Engages in Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Egypt
Rebel Advances Lead to Aleppo Airport Closure
UK Intelligence Chief Alerts: Iran's Nuclear Intentions Represent a Worldwide Danger
Putin Warns Trump Isn’t Safe—And Here’s Why That Might Be True
Can Donald Trump Bring Peace to the Middle East—or Is It Beyond His Reach?
COP29's Carbon Trading Deal Faces Major Criticisms
Global Erosion of Women’s Basic Rights
Putin Warns Trump of Ongoing Safety Concerns
From Islamophobia Concerns to Global Alliances: A Snapshot of Key Developments
Global Unrest: From Fragile Ceasefires to Free Speech Battles and Defense Shifts
Global Developments: Israel's ICC Critique, Saudi Infrastructure Upgrades, and Middle Eastern Economic and Educational Advancements
Trump Nominates Kellogg for Ukraine-Russia Envoy Amid Global Tensions; Israel Appeals ICC Arrest Warrants
UAE Consumer Spending Soars; Saudi Arabia Drives GCC Unity Amid Global Oil and Policy Shifts
China's Military Shake-Up: Anti-Corruption Clampdown Rivals Middle East Innovation Drive and Rising Tensions
Operation Orion: Global Drug Bust Shakes Cartels as Nations Tackle Emerging Challenges and Crises
Global Turmoil: From UK Investigations to U.S. Sanctions, Trade Tensions, and Corporate Challenges
×