Continuation of Turkey’s Military Presence in Iraq after the Dissolution of the PKK
Mohammad Saleh Sedqian, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, referring to the continuation of Turkey’s military presence in northern Iraq despite the formal dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), stated: “The fact that the Turkish army has not left Iraqi soil despite the dissolution of the PKK shows that Ankara is pursuing objectives beyond countering terrorism.”
The Iraq affairs analyst added: “Over the past four decades, Turkey had justified its military presence in northern Iraq under the pretext of fighting the PKK; but now that this group has laid down its arms and dissolved its armed structure, there is no longer any reason for the continuation of military operations and the maintenance of Turkish bases in Iraq.” He added: “The presence of Turkish forces in over sixty military positions in northern Iraq and continuous attacks on mountainous areas indicate Ankara’s long-term plan to expand its geopolitical influence in West Asia.” He emphasized: “The Baghdad government has repeatedly asked Ankara to withdraw its forces, but Turkey, relying on claims of supporting ethnic and religious minorities in northern Iraq, has persisted. In fact, Turkey is seeking to redefine the concept of ‘regional security’ in a way that extends its sphere of influence deep into Iraqi territory.”
Mohammad Saleh Sedqian explained: “When Erdogan claims that neighboring countries are pleased with Turkey’s military presence, he is actually engaging in a form of political narrative-building. Such statements are inconsistent with the field reality and the official positions of the Iraqi government; rather, their goal is to legitimize Turkey’s presence and gain regional legitimacy for actions that, from the perspective of international law, constitute a violation of territorial sovereignty.”

Expansion of the Scope of Turkey’s Military Influence from Iraq to Libya
The West Asia affairs analyst continued, stating: “Turkey’s view of the region must be examined within a framework broader than its presence in Iraq, because this country’s military presence in Iraq is only part of a larger network that includes Syria, Libya, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and even some Central Asian countries.” He stressed: “In fact, the Turkish army, with a more active role within the framework of NATO over the past decade, has moved beyond the traditional policy of defending national borders and has become an influential force at the regional level. From the ‘Peace Spring’ operation in Syria to the deployment of forces in Libya and military support for the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh war, all are part of a policy that should be called the ‘militarization of Turkey’s foreign policy’.”
The expert added: “Today, Turkey is seeking to establish its position as an extra-regional power. Projects such as the ‘Turani Corridor’ and the creation of geostrategic links between Ankara, Baku, and Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia are aligned with this direction. This corridor not only has an economic dimension but also contains military and security components.” He added: “Military cooperation with Qatar and some Arab countries also shows that Turkey, alongside cultural and linguistic alliance-building in the Caucasus and Central Asia, wants to establish its position as a power hub and active player in West Asia and North Africa through the creation of multi-layered religious alliances.”
Sedqian elaborated: “This trend is, in fact, a response to the power vacuum resulting from the gradual retreat of the United States from the region. In such a way that Ankara, by combining military, economic, religious, and cultural components, is filling this vacuum and shaping a kind of Turkish/Islamic influence bloc that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to Central Asia.”

Turkey’s Geopolitical and Geo-energy Objectives in Redefining Regional Equations
The West Asia affairs analyst emphasized in the final part of the interview: “Turkey’s actions cannot be understood without paying attention to its grand geopolitical and geo-energy objectives. Turkey is trying, through active military presence, to bring energy routes and new transit lines under its control.” He explained: “Ankara is striving to use its geographical position to become the region’s energy distribution hub. Controlling northern Iraq means controlling the routes for transferring gas and oil to Europe. In line with this, by deploying its military in border and mountainous areas, Turkey practically takes control of the security of pipelines and export routes.”
Mohammad Saleh Sedqian stated: “Turkey’s goal is not only security, but the redefinition of the region’s geopolitical order in its favor. Erdogan, by combining energy policy, economy, and military power, is seeking to elevate his country’s position from a regional player level to that of an influential Eurasian power.” He added, “Although this policy is ostensibly based on security and the fight against terrorism, at its core, it is defined based on power balance and deterrence. Turkey wants to play a decisive role in all regional dossiers, from Iraq and Syria to Libya and the Caucasus.”
In conclusion, the West Asia affairs expert noted: “If recent developments are considered alongside Ankara’s economic and energy policies, a clear picture emerges that Turkey is designing a new order in which it defines itself not merely as part of West Asia, but as a geopolitical pivot between Europe and Asia. The continuous military presence in Iraq is only one of the tools for achieving this grand objective.”