Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has adopted a more cautious stance on the Turkey / Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) issue, marking a significant shift from his earlier, more cooperative position with Turkey.
In an interview with Al-Hurra TV on 11 July, Hussein said, “The PKK issue is Turkey’s problem, but it needs to be solved in Iraq.” This statement contrasts with his remarks to CNN Türk in March, where he described the PKK as a “problem for Iraq, the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] and Turkey.”
The shift in Hussein’s stance comes during his visit to the US, where he is engaging in high-level discussions with officials, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The talks are focusing on security, economic and financial issues, with an emphasis on regional stability.
In the interview, Hussein denied that Iraq or the Kurdistan Regional Government had given Turkey a “green light” for military operations in border regions. “The Turkish army presence in the border areas is linked to the presence and activities of PKK fighters in those areas,” he stated, rejecting reports of plans for a 30-40 kilometre deep security corridor.
The foreign minister’s recent comments represent a departure from his earlier approach. Earlier, Hussein placed an emphasis on cooperation with Turkey to address the PKK issue, saying, “We will discuss the demands and make a joint plan in March.”
Now, Hussein is stressing the need for broader regional discussions. He mentioned Iraq’s initiative to bring Turkey and Syria closer, with potential trilateral meetings. “Iraq believes that solving this problem will also solve the security knot in the region,” he explained.
Hussein also drew distinctions between different Kurdish groups, noting, “The PKK’s ideology, way of thinking and activities are different from those of Iranian Kurdish opposition forces in the Kurdistan Region.” He suggested the PKK issue could potentially be resolved similarly to the way the presence of Iranian opposition forces, mostly settled in camps as refugees, was addressed in the Kurdistan Region.
This shift in tone suggests a more balanced approach by Iraq, possibly in response to domestic or regional pressures. Hussein’s statements indicate a move towards emphasising Iraq’s role in regional diplomacy rather than focusing on bilateral action with Turkey against the PKK.
Update: Reports started to come in on Sunday that a meeting of regional governments is to be held in Baghdad in the near future.
