Iraq and Turkey Agree on Security and Trade Measures
At a Glance
- Iraq and Turkey agreed to deepen security cooperation following talks between their leaders in New York.
- The two sides linked progress on Shingal security measures to a gradual handover of the Bashiqa-Zilkan Camp.
- Baghdad and Ankara also agreed to expand trade and investment and accelerate existing agreements.
- The Development Road Project was identified as a key area for faster joint implementation.
Iraq and Turkey have agreed on a package of security and economic measures following a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on September 23. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.
Key Statements and Focus Area
- Shingal and State Authority: “The two parties agreed to enforce full state authority and the rule of law in the Shingal (Sinjar) district and to terminate the presence of all proscribed foreign armed elements.” — Iraq–Turkey joint statement.
- Bashiqa-Zilkan Camp: “The Government of the Republic of Turkey reaffirms its commitment to a gradual handover of the Bashiqa–Zilkan Camp to the Iraqi Federal Government.” — Iraq–Turkey joint statement.
- Article Focus: The agreement links security arrangements in Shingal with the future transfer of the Bashiqa-Zilkan Camp, while also setting out measures to advance bilateral economic cooperation.
The discussions covered the broader strategic relationship between Iraq and Turkey, with security cooperation forming a central part of the agreement.
The agreement also places economic cooperation alongside the security track. Iraq and Turkey agreed to increase bilateral trade and investment and to move immediately on agreements that have already been signed.
The two governments further agreed to accelerate joint strategic projects, with the Development Road Project specifically highlighted. The project is intended to strengthen transport and trade connections between Iraq and Turkey and form part of broader regional economic cooperation.
The meeting comes as Iraqi and Turkish officials continue high-level engagement on security, infrastructure, trade, and regional stability. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi was also among regional leaders attending a US-convened meeting in New York on September 23 that addressed regional security, energy supplies, and economic issues.
FYI
Security arrangements in Shingal have remained an important issue in Iraq-Turkey relations, particularly regarding armed groups operating in or around the district. Al-Zaidi said earlier this month that weapons held by factions in Shingal would begin being handed over to the state and that the area would come under full federal government control.
Channel8 recently reported that a high-ranking Iraqi security delegation met with the Turkish Foreign Minister to officially convey Baghdad's request for Ankara to withdraw its forces from Iraq.
Meanwhile, regarding Turkish troops stationed inside the Kurdistan Region and along the border, Baghdad indicated it will not overly press the issue regarding those deployments as a matter between the KRG and Ankara based on Turkey's border security concerns.
The Development Road Project is another major component of the bilateral relationship. The planned transport corridor connects Iraq’s Al-Faw port with Turkey through road and rail infrastructure and is intended to support trade and regional supply chains.
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