Skip to main content

Can Turkey Afford Kurdish Gas?

Turkey may be hurting its broader economic interests in Iraq by pursuing energy ties with the Kurdistan Region, writes Guven Sak.
Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz attends a news conference with his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Istanbul December 2, 2012. Russia would be willing to increase its gas supplies to Turkey this winter if Ankara asked it to and an agreement was reached, Novak said on Sunday. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY)

Political turmoil has an acute effect on Turkey’s economic relations in the Middle East. Our southern borders being as they are, we in Turkey are learning more about this than we would like. While the Syrian crisis will have an impact on the Turkish economy, Iraq will have an even greater effect. 

First, Iraq is energy-rich, while Turkey is energy-poor.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.