Australia–Kurdistan Region relations

Australia-Kurdistan Region relations

Australia	Kurdistan Region

Australia–Kurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Australia and Kurdistan Region.[1] While Australia has no representation in Kurdistan, Kurdistan has a representative office in Sydney.[2][3] Moreover, there is a Kurdish lobby in Australia.[4] In late 2014, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott authorized the training of the Kurdish soldiers or Peshmerga and also supplied the Kurds with ordnance in September 2014.[5][6] A C-130J was involved in the airlift of arms and munitions to the Kurdish forces.[7] In April 2016, it was disclosed that an Australian Army Special Operations Task Group personnel were assisting at the "divisional level" embedded with senior Kurdish Peshmerga commanders.[8]

In 2015, Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa travelled to Australia and met with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to discuss the security circumstances in Kurdistan and bilateral relations.[9] Moreover, Mustafa met with Attorney-General George Brandis.[10]

See also

• Operation Okra

References

1. While Kurdistan Region refers to the autonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is a geographical term referring to the Kurdish area of Iraq
2. "KRG Representation in Commonwealth of Australia". Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 6 July 2019.^[permanent dead link‍]
3. "KRG Australia". www.krgaustralia.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
4. "Kurdish Lobby Australia - letter INC160069" (PDF). Kurdish Lobby Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
5. "Abbott to see off Australian troops bound for Mideast". ABC News. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
6. Pollard, Ruth (11 September 2014). "Australian-supplied weapons have reached the Kurdish frontline". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
7. "ADF delivers fifth shipment to Iraq" (Press release). Department of Defence. 26 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
8. Toohey, Paul (29 April 2016). "Australian special forces in Iraq 'will not creep into a combat role' in the fight against Islamic State". News.com.au. News Corp Australia Network. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
9. "KRG Foreign Minister discusses bilateral ties and ISIS with Australian Foreign Minister". dfr.gov.krd. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
10. "Minister Bakir holds separate meetings with Attorney General of Australia and Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade". dfr.gov.krd. Retrieved 6 July 2019.

Further reading

• Benjamin Isakhan and William Gourlay. "The Kurdish Referendum and Australia's Policy Options - AIIA". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
• "Wyatt Roy caught in deadly firefight between Peshmerga and IS in Iraq". SBS News. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2019.