Contradictory Politics Of Krg & New Assumed Energy Corridor Through Iran

Authors : Oğuzhan AKYENER

Pages : 52-61

View : 26 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2016-09-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In addition to its estimated 40 billion bbl oil and 8 tcm gas reserves insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(according to OPEC reports);, Northern Iraq is one of the most strategic areas for Turkey by considering the historical, ethnical, commercial, security and other political issues. Due to this importance, in the last decade, Turkey has tried to improve social, cultural and economic relations with the regional government of Northern Iraq insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(KRG);, sometimes by having the risk of disrupting the relations with the Central Iraqi Government insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CIG);. As a result of this strategy, Turkey let KRG to export around 500 mb/d oil from Turkish Ceyhan port, which is the vital step for KRG’s presence. However, the region, being also strategic for other actors, increases the complexity of the relations. That’s why KRG’s ruling party KDP has been slogging on taking the steady and stable political steps and having contradictory discourses and decisions between her relations with Turkey – Iran – Central Iraq Government insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CIG); and USA. In this article, after giving brief information about the geostrategic position of Northern Iraq insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(to be able understand why and for whom the region is important);, key local and international actors having influence in the region will be tried to be identified. After having basically clarified the key actors’ main expectations in the region, some political contradictions of KRG in her relations with those key actors will be analyzed. Moreover, Northern Iraq to Iran oil pipeline insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(which is assumed as the new energy corridor through Iran); as one of the actual contradictions will be evaluated. 
Keywords : Contradictory Politics Of Krg, Energy Corridor Through Iran