Türkiye, Iraq accelerate diplomatic efforts to kick off Development Road Initiative

Development Road Project is a major initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between the Basra Gulf and Türkiye, ultimately linking it to Europe through a network of land and rail routes. This project is expected to significantly boost economic cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq, creating new opportunities for trade and investment.

Key points

• A rapid diplomatic effort unfolds between Türkiye and Iraq following the signing of a memorandum on security cooperation and counterterrorism.
• Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qassim al Araji in Ankara, leading to the announcement of the Development Road Project memorandum.
• Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani travels to Ankara for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Details of ongoing Development Road diplomacy

In a significant move, Türkiye and Iraq initiated a series of diplomatic engagements focused on security and economic cooperation. Following the recent signing of a memorandum on security collaboration, key discussions between the two nations have yielded rapid and positive results. Over the past week, both countries have finalized crucial agreements.

A meeting of the Quadruple Ministerial Council in Baghdad brought together the transport ministers of Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), resulting in a mutual agreement to establish a coordination mechanism for managing the Development Road Project. This project aims to connect the Basra Gulf to Türkiye and Europe via land and rail routes.

Security and development focus

While pivotal decisions regarding the project were made in Baghdad, Iraqi National Security Advisor Araji met with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Fidan in Ankara to address ongoing security concerns. While specific details of their discussion remain undisclosed, it is believed to have included a range of topics, including Türkiye’s military operations against the PKK terrorist group in northern Iraq and the Development Road Project.

Araji’s meeting was soon followed by Prime Minister Sudani’s visit to Ankara, signaling the importance of this dialogue. The Iraqi prime minister’s office confirmed his arrival for discussions with President Erdogan, highlighting the ongoing commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Türkiye and Iraq.