Relations between a regional government are witnessing Iraqi Kurdistan The central government in Baghdad is upward tension in recent weeks, amid complex financial and political disputes that vow with a possible explosion in the internal Iraqi scene.
This was reported in a report by the “Independent” newspaper in its Turkish version, in which the writer Serpest Farhan Sindi sheds light on this tension, noting that the current crisis revolves around two main files: the salary crisis, and energy agreements with American companies that have angered Iran.
The roots of tension dates back to the decision taken by the Iraqi Ministry of Finance at the end of last month, not to pay the salaries of the Kurdistan region employees, which was considered a declaration of a break.
The main reason
The escalation of Baghdad, according to the writer, is due to a huge agreement signed by the prime minister of the region, Masrour Barzani, with the two American Energy companies during his visit to Washington in mid -month.
The agreement, which exceeded $ 100 billion, considered Baghdad in violation of the Iraqi constitution, and sparked an explicit objection on its part. The central government indicated that it does not oppose the presence of American companies in Iraq, but it rejects any agreements that are concluded outside their framework.
Tension is also associated with US sanctions on Iran. The United States seeks to end Iraq’s dependence on Iranian gas, and Baghdad has officially informed that it will not grant new exemptions to import it, which prompted the American administration to coordinate with the Baghdad government to find alternatives, most notably Kurdish gas.
Iranian worker
Here, Tehran’s sensitivity, which sees the development of the Kurdistan region of its invading resources, lies a direct threat to its influence, as it will weaken the energy sheet that has always been used by a pressure paper inside Iraq.
Sindi notes that the militant position of Baghdad came an indirect response to Iranian pressure, which explains the tense behavior of Baghdad in dealing with the salary file and agreements in the field of energy.
As a result of this tension, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the main partner in the federal government, held an emergency meeting today, Monday, threatening to escalate, and possibly withdraw from the government, if the salaries are not paid before Eid al -Adha.
The two main Kurdish parties – the Kurdistan Democratic and the National Union – possess pivotal positions in the central government, including the Presidency of the Republic, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and several sovereign ministries, which makes their positions a very impact in determining the course of the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad.
Internal divisions
In the broader political context, the writer points out that the division within the Shiite house is reinforcing the ability of Erbil to maneuver. Absence Muqtada Al -Sadr On the elections, the weakest of the popular legitimacy of the regime, and the concern of its opponents, including them Nuri al -Maliki.
For his part, the Prime Minister seeks Muhammad Shi’a Al -Sudani To maintain an accurate balance between openness to Washington and neighboring countries and its relations with Tehran.
It is likely that the Sudanese will try to form an alliance that includes the Shiite moderates such as Hadi Al -Amiri, and perhaps even the chest, with the aim of curbing the pro -Iranian radical wings such as Qais Khazali and Abu Alaa Al -state, according to the writer.
Dilgers of accurate interests
This alliance may pave the way to get al -Maliki out of the scene, which may open the door to new settlements that include the involvement of the chest again in the political process.
All these dynamics, Al -Sindhi says, gives the Kurdistan Democratic Party more ability to impose more appropriate conditions in any future negotiations with Baghdad.
The writer also confirms that the complete estrangement between Erbil and Baghdad is not likely, despite the severity of the escalation, but rather moderate personalities are expected to intervene to contain the crisis, especially the Sudanese and Amiri.
In the end, the writer concludes by saying that the future of the relationship between the two sides remains a precise balance between Iranian and American interests, the options of Kurdish forces, and the developments of the internal Shiite scene in Iraq.