Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stepped up his country’s threats against the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Iraq, issuing a new warning on Thursday for the group’s alleged support of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD).
Erdoğan’s latest outburst is set against a backdrop of Turkey’s contentious military forays and extrajudicial killings in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), actions that have been widely condemned for destabilising the region, causing losses to Kurdish forces battling ISIS, and leading to civilian casualties.
Speaking to journalists on a return flight from Egypt, where he softened his previous stance against Egyptian President Sisi, Erdoğan praised the advances in relations with Erbil but sharply criticised the PUK administration in Sulaymaniyah for its alleged inaction against these groups, despite Turkey’s repeated warnings and the prolonged suspension of flights.
Highlighting the dichotomy between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUK, with the former portrayed as a cooperative partner and the latter as the problematic entity, Turkey’s involvement in Iraqi Kurdistan’s politics has become increasingly evident.
“Despite our numerous warnings, the Sulaymaniyah administration’s continuous sheltering of terrorist factions like the PKK, YPG, and PYD is utterly reprehensible,” Erdoğan asserted, indicating the potential for harsher measures should the PUK’s actions, which Turkey views as provocations, continue.
These remarks follow a series of high-level Turkish diplomatic initiatives, led by figures such as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, to strengthen security cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdish regional government. The initial threats towards the PUK were articulated by Foreign Minister Fidan.
Erdoğan cited Turkey’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria to justify these threats, cautioning the PUK in Sulaymaniyah against fostering a haven for such groups. “Failing to act against these terrorist organisations not only endangers regional stability but directly challenges our resolve. We will take all necessary measures to ensure our borders and citizens are protected from these threats,” Erdoğan warned.
These developments coincide with Turkey’s ongoing flight ban to and from Sulaymaniyah International Airport, initiated in April due to perceived threats from PKK activities. The ban, initially set to end in July 2023, has been extended to June 2024, signalling Turkey’s continued pressure on the PUK.
