By Tahseen Wsu Abdullah
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad have gone through ups and downs since 2003, so that the relations were only normal and without problem in the framework of constitution, but on the pratically, the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad have been constantly in conflict.
The Kurdistan Region has always seen itself as an oppressed and victim of Baghdad, while Baghdad officials have always viewed the Kurdistan Region as exercising power beyond its limits, so it must be limited. This mentality and understanding has completely dominated relations between the two sides since 2003, and will shape the level and type of relations in the future.
The panorama of relations between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been constantly fluctuating since 2003, in the sense that relations have not been in the same direction. The relationship between two different states is not so much like the relationship between a region and a federal government, because both look at each other with different eyes Political in the country.
The instability of relations has a direct impact on the survival of government cabinets. After the fall of the Ba’ath regime, the relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad have been stable, but the political situation and the political process have been conducted normally.
After 2003, there are many differences and conflicts between theory and practice in the relations between the two sides. In other words, the principles and mechanisms agreed upon to resolve issues and find common solutions to problems by the central government, the main reason for the remaining relations in the crisis framework and not reaching a solution on outstanding issues between the two sides.
The Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi government have constantly accused each other of causing disagreements and tensions between them, and this vision of each others has affected the level of relations.
After a long period of deep conflict and intense conflict, there is a kind of slowdown and efforts by the federal government to find an appropriate solution to some of the conflicts, but the question arises: Is Baghdad serious about its efforts? In other words, the issue can be expressed differently: Are Baghdad’s efforts now tactics or pressure or a strategic approach?
Therefore, to analyze this issue, we can use the past policy of Baghdad towards the Kurdistan Region to interpret Baghdad’s intentions. In this regard, if we take the experience of the past twenty years, this policy and attitude of Baghdad falls within the framework of tactics or pressure, because in the past it has been observed that any prime minister in Baghdad In the case of the Kurdistan Region, this softness was either under external pressure or as a tactic to gain support to stay in power. This shows that Baghdad’s intentions towards the Kurdistan Region have never stemmed from a strategic worldview.