Türkiye and Iraq strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism efforts

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s satisfaction with Iraq’s recent actions to ban political parties linked to the PKK during a joint press conference held with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The conference followed the fourth meeting of the Türkiye-Iraq High-Level Security Mechanism.

Fidan praised Iraq’s decision to outlaw the PKK-affiliated political parties, describing it as a positive step in the ongoing battle against terrorism. “We expressed our satisfaction with Iraq’s decision to shut down three political parties affiliated with the PKK as part of their banned organization ruling,” Fidan stated.

The meeting is part of a broader effort to deepen Türkiye-Iraq relations, with Fidan highlighting the historical ties between the two nations. He noted that both countries have been intensifying political and technical engagements to strengthen bilateral relations. He pointed out that this effort was significantly advanced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “historic visit” to Iraq in April, during which 27 agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed.

Fidan recalled that these agreements reflected a shared will between the two countries to cooperate further, noting the importance of the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between Türkiye and Iraq. The agreement calls for the establishment of Permanent Joint Committees to address cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, water issues, transportation, health, and education. These committees, Fidan said, have been institutionalized to enhance the relationship across various sectors.

As part of the institutionalization efforts, Fidan pointed to the Joint Planning Group, created under the Strategic Framework Agreement, which oversees the committees and directs their work. He shared that during a preparatory meeting held yesterday, co-chaired by deputy ministers from both countries, discussions focused on the implementation of the agreements and the activation of the permanent committees.

The fourth meeting of the Türkiye-Iraq High-Level Security Mechanism included Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yaşar Guler, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head İbrahim Kalın, and Deputy Interior Minister Münir Karaloğlu, as well as high-ranking Iraqi officials. Fidan reminded the press that similar meetings were held in December 2023 and March 2024, and today’s meeting continued that format.

Counterterrorism efforts intensify

The discussions also addressed the countries’ joint efforts against terrorism, with particular focus on combatting the PKK. Fidan underscored the significance of Iraq’s decision to classify the PKK as a “joint threat” and later as a “banned organization.” “In today’s meeting, we thoroughly discussed the security, military, and intelligence dimensions of our relationship, particularly in our fight against the PKK,” Fidan said. He added that further cooperation opportunities were also explored.

Fidan reaffirmed that Türkiye and Iraq would continue their dialogue on counterterrorism without interruption. He expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations for a memorandum of understanding on military, security cooperation, and counterterrorism would benefit both countries and thanked those who contributed to the discussions.

Additionally, Fidan announced that Türkiye would implement a visa exemption for Iraqi citizens under the age of 15 and over the age of 50 starting September 1, following an agreement reached during Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad.

Fidan also addressed broader regional issues, emphasizing that the region is going through a “very painful process,” citing Israel’s near-yearlong military actions targeting civilians in Gaza. “We stand united with Iraq on the Palestinian issue,” Fidan said.

He also referenced Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent speech to Türkiye‘s Grand National Assembly, noting that Abbas had addressed the world from Türkiye’s parliament.