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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.
