Recently, the Kurdish nation has been making strides on the international scene disproportionate to its relatively small population and land area. In Iraq, the Autonomous Region has maintained a degree of control over the Kirkuk oil fields, even as they’ve opened them for export. In Turkish Kurdistan, the PKK has continued to stand against Ankara. Most significantly, though, Rojava has continued to resist Turkish, Islamist, Iranian, and Syrian pressures. Even as the Turkish army fires across the border and occupies Afrin, the YPG and SDF have continued to fight against the Islamic State in the southeastern regions of Syria.
The stand of Rojava presents a particularly interesting opportunity for some in the region, while it holds as a frustrating obstacle for others.The control of many oil fields by the YPG and SDF, as well, certainly provides an incentive for taking a strong stance on the existence of Rojava as an entity. Additionally, though, it serves as an inspiration for Kurdish groups in nearby – often repressive – states, such as Turkey and Iran. The Kurdish Worker’s Party in Turkey, in particular, has taken to Rojava as a source of pride, causing a surge in Kurdish nationalism in recent years. Recent Turkish actions against Rojavan autonomy or independence are a clear example of how great the threat is to Ankara. It also shows one reason why the Turks are willing to make such bold moves against the Kurds in Syria.
In the nearby Kurdish Autonomous Region, things are somewhat more peaceful. However, this peace is rocked by the instability of the new parliament in Erbil, which could radically redirect the path of the small pseudostate. Facing internal issues on a wide scale, the new parliament and prime minister face a unique challenge in the near future, especially as the dynamic with Baghdad changes in the wake of the opening of the Kirkuk oil fields.