Iraq–Turkey relations

Türkiye and Iraq will appoint a general each to a new security center planned for Baghdad, defense sources told local media on Aug. 22.

The announcement follows a landmark agreement signed last week aimed at bolstering military and security cooperation between the neighbors.

Senior government and military officials from Türkiye and Iraq had detailed talks to further improve security cooperation and eliminate the terrorist threat from the latter's territories.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein chaired the meetings with the attendance of defense ministers and intelligence chiefs from both sides.

Iraqi border security forces have begun duty in the country's Zakho region as Baghdad established two new military bases in the area threatened by the PKK for the first time in 33 years.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has disclosed a joint work with his Iraqi counterparts for signing a comprehensive bilateral agreement which will pave the way for increasing cooperation in security and economy during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Iraq in April.

A joint declaration by Türkiye and Iraq following a high-level security summit in Baghdad has announced the two neighbors' will to mutually fight the PKK terror organization on Iraqi soil. It also underlined that Baghdad has banned the PKK for the first time, a move Ankara hailed.

The Turkish defense minister and the chief of general staff have left for Baghdad for an official visit to hold talks with their Iraqi counterparts over security concerns after PKK attacked the Turkish troops in northern Iraq.

Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın has paid a visit to Baghdad and discussed anti-terror cooperation and other security concerns with senior Iraqi officials, including Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid.

Turkey on April 21 summoned Baghdad's top envoy to defend its decision to launch a military campaign against PKK in northern Iraq.

The Middle East is "coming to a boil" with many problems and Turkey has been showing efforts to control and cease the "temporary" tensions between the U.S. and Iran by using diplomatic means, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said.

Turkey and Iraq have agreed to establish a water resources center in Baghdad to study and address water issues in the region.