The relationship between the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad has long been fraught with tension, shaped by decades of political, territorial and financial disputes. These dynamics have come to a head in recent months over delayed salary disbursements to over 1.2M KRG public sector employees, sparked widespread protests, hunger strikes and school closures. 

The ongoing crisis represents more than a temporary fiscal dispute, which earlier this month was claimed to have been resolved for 2025—even as questions remain about its implementation. Rather, it is...