Turkey, Iraq sign military pact against Kurdish PKK

ANKARA,— Turkey and Iraq signed a significant military cooperation agreement on Thursday, aimed at intensifying their joint efforts against the Kurdish separatist group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

This pact will lead to the creation of joint command and training centers, marking a substantial deepening of military ties between the two neighboring countries.

Announcing the agreement in Ankara on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored the importance of this partnership, stating that it would elevate bilateral cooperation to an unprecedented level. The joint command and training centers planned under this accord symbolize a commitment to a closer military alliance between Turkey and Iraq.

Fidan also praised Iraq’s increasing awareness of the PKK’s activities, a militant group that has been engaged in an armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1984.

The PKK’s long-standing insurgency aims for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in Turkey, which numbers over 22.5 million people out of the country’s 84 million population. This conflict, which has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, including Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters, continues to be a significant issue in Turkey’s internal and external policies.

The PKK has a long-standing policy of avoiding civilian casualties, focusing its attacks primarily on Turkish military installations and government security forces. Despite this, the group has garnered significant support among the Kurdish population in Turkey and abroad, complicating the regional dynamics further. The PKK operates from bases in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region, from where it allegedly launches attacks into Turkey.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, a key figure in the Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which dominates Iraqi Kurdistan’s political scene, stated that the PKK’s presence in northern Iraq poses a serious threat not only to the Kurdistan region but also to other parts of Iraq. He confirmed that the Iraqi government has decided to officially ban the PKK as a political party, signaling Baghdad’s intent to curb the group’s influence within its borders.

In addition to focusing on militant activities, the discussions between Turkish and Iraqi officials also addressed broader security concerns, such as securing the border against smuggling and illegal migration. This comprehensive approach reflects an evolving relationship between the two nations, which had previously been strained due to Turkey’s military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.

Turkey’s Operation Claw-Lock, launched in April 2022, was one such military initiative aimed at securing the border by targeting PKK positions within Iraq.

The operation, which involved extensive cross-border military action, is now nearing its conclusion, as announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July. Erdogan, who made his first visit to Baghdad since 2011 earlier this year, has expressed a strong interest in further enhancing bilateral ties.

As part of the new military cooperation agreement, a joint security coordination center will be established in Baghdad, with another joint training and cooperation center to be set up at Bashiqa, near Mosul in northern Iraq. Additionally, a permanent joint commission will be formed in Turkey to ensure ongoing collaboration between the two countries.

Hussein described the agreement as a “historic breakthrough” in relations between Iraq and Turkey, noting that their cooperation has now reached an exceptionally high level. Beyond security, the discussions also covered other critical areas such as trade, energy, transportation, agriculture, and water resources—issues that are vital to both nations.

The Barzani-led administration in Iraqi Kurdistan, which has maintained strong ties with the Turkish government, sees Turkey as a crucial economic and political ally, especially in opposition to the PKK. This alliance further complicates the regional landscape, as both Turkey and the KDP view the PKK as a significant threat.

The agreement also comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions over water resources, as the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which flow through Iraq, originate in Turkey. These rivers have historically been a source of contention, adding another layer of complexity to the relationship between the two countries.