... consensus in Washington that the stage of massive military deployments has come to an end and that, in a very complicated Iraqi scene, diplomatic influence supported by security alliances is more effective and less expensive. Given the relative stability of Iraqi Kurdistan in comparison to the rest of Iraq and its historical ties to Washington, Erbil seems to be the
preferred U.S. choice
in the present scenario. Whether in the fight against ISIS or in balancing Iran's expanding influence in Iraq, the Kurdish region has continuously proven to be a ...
... In other words, any agreement on federal positions will probably be a component of a larger agreement on regional government, and vice versa.
According to the post-2003 ethno-sectarian political apportionment system, the PUK has frequently held the Iraqi presidency in Baghdad. Both parties have taken on significant ministries, and the KDP has had key parliamentary roles. The PUK oversees the deputy prime minister and speaker of the parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan, while the KDP is in charge of the semi-autonomous region's presidency, prime ministry, and most cabinet posts.
The PUK has attempted to renegotiate this agreement over the past year and assume control of important
security responsibilities
...
... totaling about USD 1.5 billion.
Turkish authorities responded by stopping the pipeline's daily flow of about 450,000 barrels. Despite multiple rounds of talks, the KRG
lost
billions of dollars in revenue since the great majority of the crude was pumped in Iraqi Kurdistan. While Baghdad was largely unaffected because federal exports primarily pass through southern Iraq, the stoppage swiftly grew into a financial disaster for Erbil. The KRG was allegedly forced to
illegally
ship some crude to Iran and Turkey at far cheaper prices and quantities as a result of the cessation of salary payments to government employees ...
... its territory via Iraq to Europe.
Iraq and Turkey Head to the ICC
Iraq complained to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris in 2014, that Turkey had disregarded the 1973 agreement by using the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to export oil from Iraqi Kurdistan without first informing the Baghdad-based Iraqi government. Surprisingly, the Iraqi case was filed four years after both state oil ministers
signed
an extension of the agreement in 2010, that added annexes and extended it for another 15 years, ending in August 2026.
International sanctions placed ...
Russian Oil Companies Return to post-Saddam Iraq
Russian energy companies in Iraq have maintained their presence in the country regardless of the political forces in power, working within the current domestic political situation. Prior to the Syrian campaign of 2015, which was assumed to mark ...
Working Paper #46 / 2019
This working paper looks into the complex issue of Russia–Iraq relations. It provides a detailed analysis of the foundations of the bilateral ties between the two countries, Russia’s approach to the Kurdish issue, and the future of cooperation between Russia and Iraq now that both countries have completed ...
... the past years, Russia has been paying a lot of attention to stabilization in Iraq through promoting dialog with all the parties involved. Professor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, President of the Middle East Research Institute, shares his thoughts on Russia–Iraq relations, Russia’s ties with Iraqi Kurdistan and the importance of joint economic projects.
How will Russia-Iraq relations evolve once the new government is formed?
Ruslan Mamedov:
Putin Eyes Visit to Baghdad Amid Growing Russian-Iraqi Contacts
The new government in Baghdad was ...
On September 18, 2018, Professor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, the Founding President of the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, visited Russian International Affairs Council.
On September 18, 2018, Professor Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, the Founding President of the Middle East Research Institute (
MERI
) in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, visited Russian International Affairs ...
... the highest-level political leaders and contacts among “unofficial players” in the region.
Based on Maximov’s recent meetings, one can see Moscow’s attempts to maintain contacts with virtually all important actors — from major politicians in Iraqi Kurdistan such as Massoud Barzani, Iraqi Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers
Mahdi al-Alaq
, Vice President
Nouri al-Maliki
and National Wisdom Movement leader
Ammar al-Hakim
, among many others.
Therefore, while Russia’s strategy in Iraq aims to develop of all kinds of ...
... tried to find a diplomatic way out of the situation. However, they did not succeed due to Washington’s unwillingness to look for a peaceful solution and Baghdad’s mistrust and miscalculations [
1
].
Russia and Iraqi Kurdistan in “Post-Saddam” Iraq
After 2003, Iraqi Kurdistan gained broad autonomy within Iraq. The 2005 Constitution assigned three regions to Kurdistan’s regional government. Nevertheless, Baghdad and Erbil still debate the status of two more regions and hydrocarbon-rich Kirkuk. Article 140 ...
