Nechirvan Barzani meets Erdogan just days before Kurdistan votes

Nechirvan Barzani meets Erdogan just days before Iraqi Kurdistan elections — Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani (right) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara, October 16, 2024. Photo: Nechirvan Barzani’s Press Office/via iKurd.net

ANKARA,— Iraqi Kurdistan region President Nechirvan Barzani held high-level talks in Ankara on Wednesday with senior Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the Kurdistan region approaches its significant parliamentary elections.

Barzani expressed satisfaction with the meeting, stating on X, “I am delighted to have met with President @RTErdogan once again in Ankara. Our discussions addressed various topics, including improving regional stability and reinforcing the relationships between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Turkey.”

A subsequent statement from the Kurdistan region Presidency emphasized the focus on economic cooperation. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s ongoing support for Iraq and the Kurdistan region, highlighting the readiness of Turkey’s private sector to invest in various industries.

Nechirvan Barzani’s visit to Ankara included meetings with key Turkish figures, such as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin. The Barzani family, which leads the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), has historically maintained strong ties with Turkey.

Ankara remains a critical economic and political ally for the Barzanis, particularly in the energy sector, with oil exports being a cornerstone of the Kurdistan region’s economy. Turkey also views the Barzanis as key partners in regional security, especially in countering the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with whom both Ankara and the Barzanis have longstanding hostilities.

The timing of the visit is crucial, as the Kurdistan Region’s elections are just three days away and will take place on October 20, 2024. These elections are particularly noteworthy because, for the first time since the region’s first election in 1992, the two dominant political parties—the KDP and the Talabanis’ Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—are contesting the elections without a prearranged agreement on the outcome.

The election campaign has also been notably aggressive, with both parties vying intensely for support and aiming to sway voters in a highly competitive atmosphere.

The PUK has traditionally maintained closer ties with Iran, while the KDP has fostered a strong relationship with Turkey. This political split has heightened Turkey’s interest in the results, given its close ties to the KDP and its strategic interests in the region.

Beyond the elections, discussions between Barzani and Erdogan also addressed broader regional dynamics, including escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the developments in Iran, the ongoing conflict with the PKK, and the renewal of oil exports from the Kurdistan region.

Iraqi Kurdistan region relies heavily on trade with Turkey, with an annual trade volume exceeding $5 billion. Its economy depends on foreign imports, largely financed through oil revenues. Strengthening economic ties remains a priority for both parties as they navigate the complex political landscape of the region.