IRAQI-Turkish relations 1990-2014

This thesis is planned to examine diplomatic relations between Iraq and Turkey during the period 1990-2014. It also makes an inquiry for the crucial historical developments which affected the relations between the two countries since the establishment of Iraq and Turkey. The question of Mosul which settled in 1926 and the Iraqi-Turkish relations which witnessed rapprochement with the signature of the Sadabad Pact of 1937 and then the Baghdad Pact of 1955 are examined in detail. From 1960 onwards Iraqi- Turkish were further improved as security concerns took priority in their relations and this continued till 1990s. During the 1990s Turkey supported for the international alliance against Iraq and participated in creating "no fly zone" in north Iraq to safe the Kurds from Saddam regime. Turkey herself also suffered from the economic embargo imposed on Iraq from 1990 onwards. Though Iraqi-Turkey's relations suffered from economic and political setbacks their relations swiftly recovered afterwards. Their relations have improved in different areas as both Iraq and Turkey recognized the need for each other to cooperate in security, economy, and energy fields. From 2002 onwards the most important events which affected Iraqi-Turkey's relations were election of the new Turkish government and the American War on Iraq in 2003. This was because the Turkish Justice and Development Government (JDG) adopted a new active foreign policy towards Iraq and the neighboring Arab countries. Iraq was one of the main pillars of this policy. Also, the relations between Turkey and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was developed because of the fundamental changes took place in Iraq's internal, regional and international environments. During this period "Zero Problem" policy adopted between Iraq and Turkey reached its peak during 2006-2011. For instance "High level Strategic Cooperation Council" was established between Iraq and Turkey in 2008 besides 48 memoranda were signed. However these fertile political and economic grounds were soon to replace by many obstacles and difficulties stemming from Arab uprisings and the rising of ISIS since 2011. This situation was more or less to continue in the same manner until 2014. Keywords: Iraq, Turkey, Energy, Iraqi Kurds, Turkmens, Gulf Wars.