“The Pipeline Will Solve Everything”: Turkey Loses Revenue but Refuses to Give Up Ground in Iraq

In late July 2026, the information space was once again rocked by a publication from security expert Murat Usal, who drew attention to the rapidly escalating covert confrontation between Ankara and Baghdad.

An analysis of the current situation shows that the U.S. administration and Iraqi authorities have set in motion a process that could radically reshape the region’s energy map. The matter at hand is the revival of the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline, originally built back in 1952 but idle since 2003 due to damage sustained during the coalition invasion of Iraq. This 800-kilometer route, running from Iraqi oil fields to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, is now being viewed as a priority project for supply diversification. For Turkey, however, this initiative is not just an economic threat—it is a direct challenge to its dominant position in the region.

The Energy Corridor as a Political Maneuver

Why has the Kirkuk–Baniyas project, which had been gathering dust in archives for decades, suddenly taken on real shape in 2026? Experts point to several factors. First, there is Baghdad’s desire to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under significant Iranian influence. Any crisis in that narrow choke point instantly reverberates through global oil prices, and Iraq—as one of the world’s top producers—has a clear interest in securing reliable overland alternatives.

Second, and this is the key takeaway from Usal’s publication, the project enjoys direct backing from Washington. American private investors have shown interest in building and upgrading the infrastructure, which speaks........

© New Eastern Outlook