FM Fidan to visit Baghdad for high-level talks on Türkiye-Iraq relations

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to travel to Baghdad Sunday to meet with top Iraqi officials, including President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Speaker of the House Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.

Key issues on agenda

The discussions are reportedly expected to focus on Türkiye-Iraq relations, regional stability, and mutual economic interests.

Sources from Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted Fidan’s intention to emphasize the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirm Türkiye’s dedication to operationalizing cooperation mechanisms established during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s April visit to Iraq.

Fidan is also expected to address regional developments, including the impact of Israel’s actions in the region and the situation in Syria.

He will express Türkiye’s support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to shield the country from these challenges and advocate for constructive dialogue and good neighborly relations between Iraq and Syria.

Türkiye’s expectations from Iraq

One of the critical topics Fidan will raise is Türkiye’s expectation for Iraq to officially designate the PKK as a terrorist organization and to eliminate its presence within Iraqi borders.

Fidan is also set to reaffirm Türkiye’s backing for the Development Road Project, underscoring its importance and discussing steps to accelerate its implementation.

The project, which starts from the Grand Faw Port in the Persian Gulf and extends north through Iraq to Türkiye, will include 1,200 kilometers of railway and road infrastructure. It aims to connect with Türkiye’s railway network through a route that includes Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul. Named the “Development Route” by the Iraqi government, this ambitious $17 billion Economic Corridor project aims to provide high-speed train travel from Türkiye to the Gulf within hours.

The project is expected to significantly contribute to trade and security cooperation between Türkiye and Gulf countries, offering valuable opportunities for Turkish goods to reach global markets via the Gulf.

Economic, trade cooperation

The talks will also cover efforts to remove “artificial obstacles” to advancing economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Fidan is also expected to highlight the need for deeper cooperation to benefit both nations.