Iraqi Kurdistan Seeks Independence in Oil Exports
Omar al-Shaher reports on the Kurdistan Region's decision to export oil through Turkey as escalating tensions between Baghdad and Erbil.
Amid intensified talks between the Iraqi government and the authorities of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to ease escalating political tensions, Erbil dropped an economic bombshell by exporting crude oil to Turkey without Baghdad’s consent.
While the federal government affirms that the oil exported to Turkey is crude and directed to world markets, observers in Baghdad believe that this move is highly symbolic and will lead to more steps toward autonomy, since Kurds have decided to move forward with the process of development, apart from growing turmoil with Baghdad.
Reports state that Kurdistan has begun to export crude oil to world markets through Turkey without the approval of the Iraqi government.
The Kurdistan Regional Government disputed these allegations, declaring that the transport of the resources to Turkey was for refining purposes and that the oil would be returned when the process is finished. It stated that the reason behind this move was the reduction of Kurdistan’s share of oil derivatives that the federal government has implemented. However, this did not lessen the enraged reactions from Baghdad.
