By Kazhan Abdullah
After the 1991 uprising, and the establishment of a semi- autonomous entity of Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish leaders realized that unless they formed an alliance with neighboring countries, their control over the region would be short-lived and their fate would be similar to other previous failed attempts. Because the Kurdistan Region is landlocked and its neighbors have never wanted to see an independent Kurdish entity in the region, though they thought that diplomacy is the only way for survival.
Despite the fact, that Kurdistan Regional Government has not achieved statehood yet, it has been increasingly active in the international arena since the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. However, The Kurdistan Region occupies a unique position in Middle Eastern politics. While constitutionally part of the Iraqi federal system, the KRG has developed an independent foreign policy profile which is often described as “paradiplomacy”.
Through this practice, the KRG has sought to advance its economic, political and security interests by direct contact with foreign governments, most notably Turkey. The KRG’s relations with both Baghdad and Ankara reveal how Non-state actors in fragile federations use external relations to gain independence, legitimacy and leverage.
Since 2003, the KRG has developed an active and pragmatic paradiplomacy using tools such as (trade, energy contracts, cultural exchanges, consular presence), and targeted diplomacy that have helped open and stabilize relations between Baghdad and Ankara while promoting its economic and political interests.
The Kurdistan Region has built a diplomatic bridge by building common interests, exporting oil through Turkey and promoting large trade flows, making Ankara a stakeholder in an Iraqi stability policy and creating economic dependence for Ankara to coordinate with Baghdad rather than act unilaterally. However, Energy ties, for example, have repeatedly forced trilateral negotiations involving Erbil, Baghdad and Ankara.
Also, when relations between Baghdad and Ankara are strained, Erbil’s frequent and pragmatic connections offer an alternative route to technical negotiations (energy, trade, travel), which helps to keep the lines of communication open and reduces the risk of a complete breakdown.
Building trust through trade and culture, which is an important tool, Turkish trade delegations, investment and cultural diplomacy in Erbil reduce mutual suspicion at the social level and create constituencies on both sides that benefit from stable relations.
Consequently, we can say that the Kurdistan Region’s paradiplomacy has played a major role in maintaining a stable entity between Baghdad and Ankara, despite the instability that the Kurdistan Region has faced in the process