Turkiye, an important power in the region, has actively maintained the growing trajectory of its influence in the Middle East, carefully balancing relationships with regional rivals and global powers while pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy driven by security, economic, and political interests. During the cold war era, Turkiye viewed Iraq with a threat-centric perception which primarily revolved around the Kurdistan Workers Party’s (PKK) sanctuary in the Qandil Mountains and the independence ambitions of Iraqi Kurds; developments feared to encourage separatism within Turkiye. The 2003 U.S. invasion reinforced Ankara’s perception of Iraq as an increasingly volatile and high-risk neighbour. As such, though an important neighbour, Iraq has been perceived by Turkiye as posing difficulties for the country’s security. Ties between the two countries have often remained tense, with the last decade being a difficult one, with formidable challenges.
However, a discernable shift in relations has recently been noted — a thaw that is marked by high level visits and deepening engagement. Iran’s influence in Iraq as well as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria are factors that influence how Ankara now views its Iraq policy. Ankara seeks to lessen its estrangement in Iraq by increasing military involvement within the discourse of joint security cooperation. The relationship has evolved and appears moving in a positive direction. Since 2020, Turkiye has pursued a policy of normalization with the central government in Baghdad, aiming to complement and expand its longstanding engagement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).[1]
