Iraqi-Turkish Relations 2014-2025: A Study in the Security and Military Fields

Abstract

For decades, the security and military dimension of Iraqi-Turkish relations has been a cornerstone in managing these relations, especially on the Turkish side due to the presence of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) elements in Iraqi territory (northern Iraq) and the inability of successive Iraqi governments to resolve this issue due to many internal and external factors.

The research aims to shed light on the security and military dimension of Iraqi-Turkish relations from 2014 to 2025, a period that has mostly witnessed intermittent security tensions in bilateral relations between the two countries as a result of many different factors and reasons, foremost among which are security reasons due to the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Iraq.

The research adopted a descriptive approach in tracking and monitoring the paths of bilateral cooperation and the intersections in the positions and actions of the governments of the two countries, and an analytical approach in analyzing the challenges of the security and military path in bilateral relations between the two countries during a very important period that witnessed internal and regional events that had an impact on those relations.

Despite years of tension during the period 2010-2018, relations subsequently witnessed the growth of a security partnership framework despite political tensions, progress towards security understandings and semi-sustainable cooperation, leading to enhanced coordination during the period 2018-2025. Therefore, the continuity of dialogue, exchange of information and intelligence, and coordination of efforts in the fight against terrorism indicate a shared desire to build a more sustainable security framework, with an awareness of the seriousness of undermining national sovereignty for two countries.

The study concluded that developing security and military cooperation between Iraq and Turkey could contribute significantly to enhancing stability and security in the region and is necessary to serve the strategic interests of both countries.