Sovereignty as a Convenience: Türkiye's Iraq Gambit
THE ACTORS: Who is involved in this story? On one side, we have Türkiye's Foreign Ministry, headed by Hakan Fidan, a former intelligence chief with deep institutional memory. On the other, the 'Iraqi media outlets' vaguely referenced as purveyors of 'misrepresentation,' and, by extension, the Iraqi state itself, which regularly protests Turkish military incursions. THE FUNDING: Where does their
money come from? Türkiye's geopolitical machinations in Iraq are deeply tied to energy. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, for instance, has been a central artery for Iraqi (often Kurdish-produced) oil exports, representing billions in revenue (Reuters, 2023). Türkiye extracts fees and exerts leverage through its control of this crucial export route. Furthermore, Türkiye's military operations against the
PKK in northern Iraq, framed as 'counter-terrorism,' are costly but receive significant domestic political support and are arguably seen as protecting strategic interests in the region. THE INCENTIVES: What do they gain from this narrative? Türkiye gains several things by framing its actions as respecting 'Iraqi sovereignty' while simultaneously acting unilaterally. Firstly, it attempts to
legitimize its ongoing military presence in northern Iraq, ostensibly to target the PKK, which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization. This presence has, by some counts, involved establishing dozens of military outposts deep inside Iraqi territory (Jamestown Foundation, 2020). Secondly, it aims to deflect criticism from Baghdad and international bodies regarding its violations of Iraqi