Turkish Government Approves Plan to Deploy Peacekeeping Force in Iraq

Just over seven months after Turkey rejected a US request to use its territory to open a northern front against Iraq, the Turkish government has decided to seek parliamentary approval for the deployment of a Turkish peacekeeping force in Iraq. Such action could help repair Turkey's strained relations with the United States.

The Turkish parliament is expected to vote on deployment as early as October 7. It was the parliament's surprise rejection of a US request for temporary basing rights in Turkey last March that sparked a sudden deterioration of bilateral relations. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archives].

A few MPs from the governing Justice and Development party have already announced that they will oppose deployment. Nevertheless, a government spokesman expressed the belief that legislative approval for deployment would be forthcoming. "The country most affected by what is going on in Iraq is Turkey," said government spokesman Cemil Cicek. "Therefore, we cannot remain indifferent to what is going on in Iraq."

Turkish officials voiced hope that the deployment would last no more than one year. They provided no specific information on the number of troops potentially involved in the deployment. Cicek said Turkey's General Staff and Foreign Ministry would determine the troop level only after receiving parliamentary approval. Earlier, officials said the United States had requested 10,000-strong peacekeeping force from Turkey. Cicek said the timetable for deployment, as well as other logistical details, would be the subject of further negotiations with US officials.

Washington last long sought Turkey's participation in an expanded international peacekeeping force in Iraq. Such a force would lessen the burden now being shouldered by the approximately 130,000 US troops in Iraq. Turkish troop deployment could go a long way to restoring what has been a traditionally close strategic relationship between Washington and Ankara.

At the same time, deployment carries with it great risks for the Turkish government. If the deployment proceeds, Turkey would be the first predominantly Muslim state to participate in the US-led Iraqi occupation force. Public opinion is running solidly against deployment, and the country's influential military establishment initially offered only tepid support for the plan.

According to Turkish media reports, top policymakers in the country's National Security Council needed weeks of debate to finally achieve consensus on the issue. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Ultimately, Turkish leaders apparently felt the opportunity to restore ties with the United States was of paramount concern.

The Turkish government's decision came after Ankara received assurances from the United States than American troops would take steps to curtail the activities of northern-Iraq-based Kurdish separatist groups, in particular the PKK/KADEK. In an additional goodwill gesture, Washington in late September extended an $8.5 billion loan to Ankara. Provided that deployment wins parliamentary approval, Turkish observers expect Ankara to press Washington for more formal guarantees that the PKK/KADEK will be contained, and the rights of ethnic Turkomen in northern Iraq will be protected.

Some military units in Turkey have already been placed on alert to prepare for mobilization. In an effort to boost morale, Turkish officials announced a hike in the amount of "combat pay" given to both to soldiers and officers deployed in hazardous locations, including Iraq.

Citing the steady stream of casualties suffered by American occupation forces, some observers in Istanbul and Ankara said that Turkish deployment could easily cause anti-war sentiment in Turkey to rise. Others suggested Turkey's decision could strain relations with other predominantly Muslim states.

The deployment also has the potential to complicate Turkish efforts to join the European Union, some Turkish political analysts suggest. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archives]. Several key EU states, especially France, were prominent critics of the Bush administration's pre-emptive military action and have shunned Washington's appeal for support of the Iraq occupation force. Turkish backing for the US peacekeeping plan could rankle influential European leaders, Turkish experts say.