Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced that Ankara and Baghdad are on the brink of “signing their first strategic agreement in years.”
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting in the Turkish parliament, Minister Guler revealed the positive momentum in the negotiations between the two countries.
Minister Guler stated, “Ankara and Baghdad are moving towards signing the first strategic agreement after many years. Counter-terrorism operations continue. We have prepared plans and continue to work.” He further added, “On Monday, the president will leave for Iraq and for the first time in many years, we will sign a strategic agreement with Iraq.”
“Our Iraqi friends have used a close phrase to call the PKK a terrorist.”
The operations being conducted are focused on cleansing the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) from PKK members, as mentioned by the Turkish Defense Minister.
In a parallel development, Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi confirmed that positive progress has been made by Iraqi military committees in collaboration with the Global Coalition, aiming to finalize future agreements.
Al-Abbasi outlined that significant headway had been achieved during discussions, particularly pertaining to equipment procurement for the Iraqi army’s aviation and air defense sectors. Notably, these contracts were signed by the American side along with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Defense.
During a press conference in al-Sulaymaniyah, Minister Al-Abbasi underscored Iraq’s commitment to enhancing intelligence cooperation and coordination with the Global Coalition, specifically focusing on air support initiatives.
He further highlighted the fruitful negotiations between Iraqi military committees and the Global Coalition, expressing optimism about the upcoming sessions aimed at cementing the agreement further.
The broader context of regional partnerships was discussed during the recent meeting between US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
Both leaders reiterated their dedication to fortifying the enduring strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States in alignment with the Strategic Framework Agreement established in 2008. This commitment underpins the shared vision for comprehensive bilateral cooperation, fostering stability and mutual prosperity in the region.
These developments reflect a collective effort to enhance regional security and cooperation, demonstrating a concerted push towards consolidated strategic agreements and partnerships that are poised to shape the future landscape of international relations in the Middle East.
