In the latest in a series of visits by Turkish officials to Iraq, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil (Hewler), on Wednesday.
Güler’s unannounced visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region follows recent visits by peered senior Turkish officials, including Turkish spymaster İbrahim Kalın last week and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan the week before.
While official statements emphasise the desire to strengthen bilateral relations, analysts speculate that these diplomatic efforts, coupled with reports of military mobilisation in the region, may signal preparations for a potential new wave of Turkish military campaigns against Kurdish guerrillas in the region.
The meetings took place against the backdrop of significant losses for the Turkish armed forces in their operations against the PKK in northern Iraq, as well as an escalation of Turkish attacks on Kurdish areas in both Iraq and Syria. In addition, recent elections in Kirkuk raised allegations that Turkey has been manipulating the political agenda in the region.
According to a statement issued by KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, the meeting focused on the political situation in the region, the latest developments in the Middle East and security threats, as well as relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and Turkey. The KRG President also emphasised coordination between Turkey, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
During the meeting with Turkish officials, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, agreed on “the importance of good neighbourly relations based on common interests”.
“The Kurdistan Region is not a threat to its neighbours,” Prime Minister Barzani added.
Güler and the Turkish delegation held talks with Masoud Barzani despite the absence of the KDP leader’s official position in the KRG. An earlier meeting between KDP leader Barzani and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), Ibrahim Kalın, had reignited accusations that the KDP was cooperating with Turkey in its military operations in northern Iraq.
The Turkish Defence Ministry said that during the meeting, Güler “conveyed the greetings” of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while exchanging views on regional defence and security issues.
