Baghdad seeks revival of security pact with Türkiye, Iran, Syria to counter PKK
Iraqi and Turkish soldiers stand next to tanks carrying Turkish and Iraqi flags during a joint military exercise near the Turkish-Iraqi border at Silopi district in Sirnak, September 26, 2017. (AFP Photo)
Iraq is taking steps to reinstate a regional security alliance among Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, aiming to tackle security threats posed by armed organizations, particularly the PKK. The initiative, led by the Iraqi government, focuses on establishing a Regional Security Conference to address PKK disarmament and resolve related cross-border tensions.
Iraq’s proposal to convene a security summit marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing issues related to the PKK, which has active bases near the Turkish border. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s political advisor, Sabhan al-Mulla Jiyad, outlined the plan, emphasizing Iraq’s commitment to finding diplomatic solutions.
“Iraq seeks to organize a regional security conference in the coming months to address ongoing issues with Türkiye, Iran, and Syria. The PKK must lay down arms and withdraw from Türkiye’s border,” Jiyad stated.
Türkiye’s domestic debate sparks regional engagement
In Türkiye, political shifts surrounding the PKK have reignited the discourse on regional security. A surprising statement from Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), on October 22 urged PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband the organization and join Türkiye’s Parliament through the Democratic Party. Bahceli’s remarks have spurred extensive debate within Türkiye’s political sphere, increasing momentum toward collaboration with Iraq.
The discussions between Türkiye and Iraq intensified soon after Bahçeli’s statement. Prime Minister al-Sudani visited Ankara on November 1, meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Iraq’s Interior Minister, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, subsequently visited Tehran to relay al-Sudani’s message to Iranian officials, while al-Sudani recently met with Kurdish leaders in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. These meetings covered issues such as oil exports, budget concerns, Kurdish regional cabinet formation, and the disarmament of PKK forces.
In an effort to revive security cooperation, Iraq aims to restore a historic regional agreement initially designed to counter Kurdish militant and political factions. “The PKK situation involves not only Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and Syria but also the United States due to its support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),” said Jiyad. “For this reason, Iraq seeks a regional security conference to resolve its issues with Türkiye, Iran, and Syria.”
Iraqi National Security Council labels PKK as a ‘prohibited organization’
Earlier this year, Iraq took an assertive stance on PKK activity, with its National Security Council designating the PKK a “prohibited organization” in March. As part of Iraq’s proposal, Jiyad reiterated calls for the PKK to disarm and relocate from Türkiye’s border. Expressing concern about the presence of Turkish troops on Iraqi soil, Jiyad added that a security framework between Iraq and Türkiye now provides a pathway to address these concerns diplomatically.
Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and Syria have a long history of security pacts aimed at curbing Kurdish militant activities. With renewed interest from Iraq, the nations are poised to explore updated terms for a multilateral approach to address regional security, collective sovereignty, and shared efforts to mitigate PKK influence across their borders
