Motion to extend Turkey’s military operations in Iraq and Syria published in Official Gazette

Duvar English

The Turkish National Assembly's passing of the motion to extend the Turkish military’s presence in Iraq and Syria for two years was published in the Official Gazette on Oct. 19. The motion had passed with 357 votes in favor, and 164 votes against on Oct. 17. 

The motion was presented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and passed with the votes from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), alongside the opposition Felicity Party (SP), Future Party (GP), and Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party. 

The main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) voted against the motion due to the clause allowing “foreign military presence in Turkey.” The CHP had campaigned against the motion with the slogan “No foreign combat boots in Turkey.” The pro-Kurdish Green Left Party (YSP) also voted against the motion, as it would destabilize the region.

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Oct. 19 sent a text message to citizens, saying "I do not accept the clause in the motion of AKP and MHP, which was passed by the Parliament, which allows foreign soldiers to come to our country. I protest!

The motion on Oct. 9 was presented to the National Assembly with President Erdoğan’s signature. It proposed extending the Turkish military’s presence in the region. The motion read, “The developments and ongoing conflict neighboring Turkey’s southern land border is an ever-increasing threat to national security.”

PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and ISIS presence in Iraq and “terrorist activity of PKK/PYD (Democratic Union Party), YPG militia and ISIS” at the Syrian border were cited as the need for the extended presence of the Turkish military in the region.