The Necessary US Role in Fixing Baghdad-Kurdistan Energy Dispute

By Michael Knights, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

The Necessary U.S. Role in Fixing the Baghdad-Kurdistan Energy Dispute

On February 15, 2022, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court ruled that the 2007 oil and gas law for the Kurdistan Region was unconstitutional, requiring a review of numerous production sharing contracts and oil sales agreements.

If the case prevents oil exports via Iraqi Kurdistan, then the world market will almost immediately lose 500,000 barrels per day, triggering higher oil prices, expanded windfalls for Russia and Iran, the collapse of Iraqi Kurdistan's economy, and a dangerous turn in Baghdad's ties with Erbil and with Ankara.

In this timely Policy Note, Iraq expert Michael Knights calls for the United States to act with other concerned states to resolve the Baghdad-Erbil energy crisis. In doing so, he categorizes the sub-issues of FSC implementation on a spectrum from higher to lower consensus, and explains both sides' views in an unvarnished, direct manner.

A targeted intervention by the United States and its partners, the author argues, could guide the dispute toward a long-overdue resolution that greatly aids U.S. interests and the global effort to find a substitute for Russian and Iranian oil and gas.

Click here to read the full report.

One Response to The Necessary US Role in Fixing Baghdad-Kurdistan Energy Dispute

  1. MW CASEY 28th June 2022 at 10:54 #

    The article of M Knight is a well structured rubbish. Because all past USA Interventions in the internal affairs of single countries led to disasters split of these countries into small failed states and will undoubtedly leads to the split of Iraq in to 3 to 6 entities:
    1 Pro Iran and Russia Sulaymaniyah Region
    2. Pro Israel and USA Arbil Region
    3. Pro Iran Shite Arab, Pro USA Shiite Arabs Region and Sunni Arab Region.

    This is an internal affair and should remain an internal problem that can be resolved with Iraq.