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Baghdad-Erbil Crisis Looms after Oil Talks Collapse

Bai Hassan oil field, west of Kirkuk (Getty Images)
Bai Hassan oil field, west of Kirkuk (Getty Images)
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Baghdad-Erbil Crisis Looms after Oil Talks Collapse

Bai Hassan oil field, west of Kirkuk (Getty Images)
Bai Hassan oil field, west of Kirkuk (Getty Images)

Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar has dropped a bombshell by acknowledging that no agreement has been reached with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over oil and energy, warning of a crisis erupting between Baghdad and Erbil.

Last March, the Federal Supreme Court announced a binding and final decision for all authorities in Iraq that the KRG has no jurisdiction to sell oil extracted from the region without Baghdad's consent.

While the KRG considered the top court’s decision politicized, it remains effective nationwide.

Moreover, Iraq said it will start implementing a court ruling that gives the federal authorities oversight of Kurdish production after failed talks with officials from the semi-autonomous region.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry did not reach an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government over oil output and exports after 75 days of talks, Jabbar said during a roundtable meeting with officials in the Iraqi National Oil Co.

Baghdad’s central government has long asserted its right to manage resources in Kurdistan, which has been pumping and selling oil independently.

The top court ruled in February that the Oil Ministry is the sole body in charge of all oil operations in the country.

“We are moving to implement the provisions of this ruling. It is not easy,” the minister said.

Jabbar on Saturday said that “starting the implementation of the resolution's provisions does not mean interrupting the dialogue,” and welcomed any approach from Erbil to continue discussions.

“We respect the constitutional authorities of the region and we propose to convert these authorities into a transparent standard system that fits the foundations of the oil industry,” he added.

Nevertheless, the Iraqi minister explained that the Iraqi National Oil Company will be responsible for managing the energy file internally, and the Oil Ministry will be responsible for dealing with the Finance Ministry and international and foreign bodies.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has slammed the court’s decision on multiple occasions.

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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Türkiye Can ‘Crush’ All Terrorists in Syria

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a press conference during the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Türkiye had the power and ability to "crush" all terrorists in Syria, including ISIS and Kurdish militants, while urging all countries to "take their hands off" Syria.

Since last month's fall of Bashar al-Assad, Türkiye has said repeatedly it was time for the Kurdish YPG militia to disband. Ankara considers the group, which spearheads the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as a terrorist organization.

Ankara has said the new Syrian administration must be given an opportunity to address the YPG presence, but also threatened to mount a new cross-border operation against the militia based in northeast Syria if its demands are not met.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said the YPG was the biggest problem in Syria now, and added that the group would not be able to escape its inevitable end unless it lays down its arms.

"Regarding fabricated excuses like ISIS, these have no convincing side anymore," Erdogan said, referring to the US position that the YPG was a key partner against ISIS in Syria and that it plays a vital role guarding prison camps where the extremist militants are kept.

"If there is really a fear of the ISIS threat in Syria and the region, the biggest power that has the will and power to resolve this issue is Türkiye," he said.

"Everyone should take their hands off Syria and we, along with our Syrian siblings, will crush the heads of ISIS, the YPG and other terrorist organizations in a short time."

Türkiye has repeatedly asked its NATO ally the United States to halt support for the SDF, and has said the new administration in Syria had offered to take over the management of the prisons. 

Later on Wednesday , Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Ankara is ready to provide support to the new Syrian administration for the management of ISIS camps in the country.

"As we have always said, we are also ready to provide the necessary assistance to the new administration in the management of ISIS camps and prisons," Fidan said.

Speaking in Ankara following his meeting with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Fidan also said diplomatic efforts will continue to ensure the removal of sanctions against Syria.