Rosneft's Kurdish Gambit Sparks Tensions Between Baghdad and Erbil

Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil company, has invested heavily in Iraqi Kurdistan, sparking tensions with Baghdad. The company's CEO, Igor Sechin, has ignored warnings of conflict and criticism from Western powers to become the region's single biggest financier.

The investment is seen as a strategic move by Moscow to expand its influence in the Middle East. Rosneft has paid around $3.5 billion to the Kurdistan regional government for various deals, including exploration blocks and control of the region's export pipeline.

The deal has angered Baghdad, which claims that Erbil does not have the right to sign commercial contracts with foreign oil companies without its approval. The Iraqi ambassador to Moscow said that the agreements signed by Rosneft are 'illegal' under the country's constitution.