Turkish military intervention in Iraq: the nature of the reasons and objectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64184/ajlps.V3.I1.Y2026.P359-376.233Keywords:
Türkiye, Iraq, reasons for intervention, objectives, and military stages of the intervention.Abstract
This research aims to analyze the nature of Turkish intervention in Iraq, identifying its causes, objectives, and repercussions on Iraqi national security and the regional environment. The research demonstrates that Turkish intervention is one of the most complex issues in relations between the two countries, given its entanglement with historically significant security, political, and geographical concerns. The intervention is largely based on Turkish national security considerations, particularly the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) within Iraqi territory. This has prompted Turkey to conduct cross-border military operations and expand its security and intelligence presence in northern Iraq. The research clarifies that the motives for Turkish intervention are not limited to security considerations but also include geopolitical considerations related to enhancing regional influence, protecting economic interests, controlling energy and trade routes, and preventing the establishment of a Kurdish entity that could threaten Turkish territorial integrity. The research also discusses Ankara's immediate objectives, namely neutralizing the PKK threat, alongside its long-term goals of establishing strategic influence in Iraq through economic and military cooperation.
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