Türkiye-Iraq relations in the post-U.S. invasion era progressed alongside the controversial Northern Iraqi independence referendum on Sept. 25, 2017. Security, water issues, and economic relations were the three crucial issues that came to the fore in bilateral ties. Türkiye’s main priority for Iraq was its stability, territorial integrity, and political unity. Political instability had already created a security gap there while Baghdad’s diminished security capacity opened up space for terrorist organizations, forcing Türkiye to increase cross-border operations. This study argues that the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, and their prolonged existence prevent Türkiye from deepening cooperation with Iraq in terms of security, water issues, and economic relations.. Click here to view the study.