Relations between Germany and Iraqi Kurdistan are bilateral diplomatic relations between Germany and Iraqi Kurdistan .
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History
In 1992, the Kurds of Iraq opened a diplomatic mission in Berlin , establishing direct contacts with the German government. In addition, the diplomatic mission was to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid from Germany to Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as inform the German public and the media about the general situation in the region [1] .
In August 2014, the German government decided to provide military assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga rebels, who opposed the advancement of militants of the Islamic state in northern Iraq. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germany cannot be limited only to verbal support for the Kurdish security forces in their struggle against the Islamic state and at the same time refuse to provide them with military assistance. In August 2014, the first batch of non-lethal military equipment from Germany arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan [ 2] . In early September 2014, Germany sent lethal weapons, including assault rifles, machine guns, pistols, anti-tank guns, night vision devices and radios. The amount of assistance provided was sufficient for 4000 Kurdish soldiers. Germany also deployed a military liaison group to Erbil to coordinate aid distribution. By September 5, 2014 the volume of military assistance provided by Germany amounted to 89 million US dollars [3] . On September 28, 2014, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Erbil and made a statement that Germany would continue to provide military support to Kurdish rebels [4] , and in October 2014 German military instructors began to train Peshmerga [5] .
In January 2015, Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen again arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan, where she visited a training camp in which German soldiers trained Kurdish rebels. Ursula von der Layen assured that Germany will continue to support Iraqi Kurdistan [6] . In February 2015, during the Munich Security Conference , Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani met with Angela Merkel and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to discuss military assistance to Kurdish rebels [7] . In May 2015, Germany decided to supply another 500 ATGM units, 30 missile launchers, Panzerfaust missiles, HK G3 and HK G36 assault rifles , as well as their ammunition [8] . From April to May 2015, five aircraft with military assistance were sent from Germany to Iraqi Kurdistan [9] . In October 2015, Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen stated that 4,700 Kurdish rebels had been trained by German instructors [10] . In January 2016, Germany opened a training base in Erbil in order to train a larger number of Peshmerga soldiers [11] .
In August 2016, the German government decided to increase the volume of military assistance to Iraqi Kurdistan: according to the German Ministry of Defense, at that time they had already sent about 70 tons of weapons to the Kurds [12] . In early November 2016, a new batch of German weapons was delivered to Iraqi Kurdistan [13] . In April 2017, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel met with Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani and praised the efforts of the Kurds in the fight against ISIS [14] .
Diplomatic relations
Germany has had a consulate general in Erbil since 2012 [15] , and Iraqi Kurdistan has a diplomatic mission in Berlin since 1992 [16] . Several high-level meetings took place between the two sides, including the visit of President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani to Berlin in 2009, where he held talks with German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier [1] . In 2014, President Masoud Barzani called Germany one of the faithful allies of Iraqi Kurdistan in the war against the Islamic State [17] . In August 2017, German Consul General Mark Ayhorn called relations with Iraqi Kurdistan “excellent” [18] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Long-term Collaboration (May 2014). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany Joins Countries Arming Kurdish Peshmerga Forces (August 20, 2014). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ German Military Aid to the Kurdish Peshmerga . American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (16 September 2014). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Kurdistan Region President welcomes Germany's Defense Minister (28 September 2014). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ German soldiers begin training Kurds (6 October 2014). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ German-Kurdish military start ground coordination against ISIS (12 January 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ President Barzani participates at Munich Security Conference (February 10, 2016). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany sends more MILAN rockets to thwart ISIS suicide bombers (April 13, 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany Steps Up Military Aid to Kurdish Forces in Iraq (19 June 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ German defense minister praises growing 'trust' with Iraq's Kurds (October 27, 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany opens training base in Erbil (15 January 2016). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany resumes weapons deliveries to Kurds in north Iraq (17 August 2016). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Germany sends new military shipment to the Kurdistan Region (2 November 2016). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ German foreign minister meets Kurdistan leaders in Iraq (April 20, 2017). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany . Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government . Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ KRG Representation in the Federal Republic of Germany . Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government . Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Allies pledge more arms to the Kurds at Munich conference (February 9, 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.
- ↑ VIDEO German Consul: Germany to support development of Kurdistan Region Post-IS (5 June 2017). Date of treatment August 8, 2017.