PKK attacks on Turkey have major implications at home and abroad

The Kurdish separatist group’s strikes are becoming more frequent and have major political implications internationally as well as over local elections

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After nine Turkish soldiers were killed by the PKK in Iraq, there is a sombre and angry mood in Ankara. There are major political implications into local elections and over relations with the US.

PKK attacks on Turkey have major implications at home and abroad

Omer Onhon

last update on 16 Jan 2024

Official funerals of nine Turkish soldiers killed in an attack by the PKK terror organisation in northern Iraq have been heart-breaking for the nation.

They highlighted an area of strain in relations with key allies – including the United States – at a difficult time for regional geopolitics and the wider world. The next steps Ankara takes over security could have significant implications at home and abroad.

The attack targeted a Turkish base near Metina, just across the Turkish-Iraqi border, in the mountainous and snow-covered terrain of northern Iraq. The army has established several bases there to prevent, or at least discourage, incursions into the country by the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group.

This attack is one of many in recent months, marking an intensification at the flashpoints in the area, with militant action previously unusual on this scale during the winter months. The previous clash, in December, killed 12 soldiers. The Turkish government attributes the unusual and bold moves to external players who use the group as subcontractors.

In retaliation, Turkey carried out air strikes against the PKK and another Kurdish group, the YPG, against their positions in northern Syria and northern Iraq.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened the inner security cabinet. It emphasised in a written statement that Turkey will never allow the establishment of a “terroristan", or a terror state, next to its borders. It pointed to its right to self-defence and to combat terrorism, regardless of who is behind it.

Broader implications

The broader implications of this stance relate to the US and Israel. Washington works with the YPG, providing it with training and arms as part of the ongoing fight against the Islamic State (IS).

But Turkey considers YPG to be an extension of the PKK, long seen in Ankara as a terrorist organisation. This leaves it at odds with Washington, which has been backing the YPG for eight years.

AFP — Turkish strikes on October 5 on the Kurdish-controlled region of Hasakeh in northeastern Syria hit a car, killing two people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Turkey has vowed not to allow a terror state to materialise on its borders. The broader implications of this stance relate to the US and Israel. Washington works with the YPG which Turkey views as an extension of the PKK.

The tension adds to the pressure over the Gaza war, where Turkey has taken a very tough position against Israel while the US has backed Tel Aviv.

Erdoğan has made it widely known that his country has submitted documents to the International Court of Justice, which he claimed would be used as evidence to help convict Israel in the Hague.

In return, high-ranking Israeli officials had harsh words for Turkey, referring also to its dealings with the "Kurds".

Domestic politics

In a show of respect for soldiers who lost their lives during the attack, all Turkish political parties postponed their election-related activities and rallies over the weekend.

But despite the gesture, the issue has become part of domestic politics, which is, as usual, already overloaded with various issues.

The most important matters at present are the state of the economy, the dispute between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals, the two pillars of the Turkish judicial system, and local elections to be held in March.

The main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), condemned the attack. But it also released a barrage of criticisms against Erdoğan and his government for failing to prevent it.

The opposition attributed what it calls the government's failures to bad and mismanaged foreign policies alongside deficiencies and shortcomings in military aspects. Questions have been raised over Turkey's military bases set up over the border and whether their defences are sufficient to cope with the attacks.

After his win in the general elections last May, President Erdoğan is now focused on making further gains in local elections.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (C) and his party's allies greet his supporters following his victory in the second round of the presidential election at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on May 29, 2023.

Read more: Erdoğan, the survivor

One of the major setbacks in his long political career was losing Istanbul to the opposition in the 2019 local elections. It was a political trauma for him and his party. He is now aiming to win back control of the municipal government there as well as in Ankara, Antalya and Adana alongside other cities.

Erdoğan is a politician who is prepared to use the fight against terrorism and appeals to a sense of patriotism to drum up his own political support. This time around, he has, once again, accused the opposition of remaining indifferent or even cooperating with the terrorists or affiliated groups, both directly and indirectly.

Erdoğan is a politician who is prepared to use the fight against terrorism and appeals to a sense of patriotism to drum up his own political support.

This means Erdoğan is likely to target the DEM Party – seen as pro-Kurds – and which could tilt the balance of the elections with its votes likely to number around 4.5mn. DEM is in contact with the main opposition party, CHP, about possible cop-operation at the local elections.

After the PKK attacks, Erdoğan made contact with Meral Akşener, the leader of nationalist IYI Party, who had joined forces with the main opposition party during the recent national elections.

This could be a first step in drawing the IYI Party back into Erdogan's coalition of conservative-nationalist parties.

Turkey 's foreign and security policy choices will continue to set the tone for foreign relations at a time when domestic politics will be defined by local campaigning.

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