Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently visited Iraq for the first time in over a decade as Ankara seeks increased cooperation from Baghdad in various areas. During his visit, Erdoğan met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to discuss agreements in water management, security, energy, and economic cooperation. The leaders also talked about joint steps to combat the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group with bases in northern Iraq.
Erdoğan’s visit comes at a time of heightened tension in the region, with Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza impacting neighboring countries. The Turkish leader mentioned consulting on taking action against the PKK, which has long posed a threat to Turkey from Iraqi territory. While Erdoğan did not specify the exact measures Turkish forces would take in Iraq, he did mention creating a security corridor along the border to tackle the PKK insurgency, a separatist movement that Turkey and its allies have labeled as a terrorist organization.
In March, Baghdad announced a ban on the PKK following a meeting with Turkish officials, though it stopped short of officially designating the group as a terrorist organization. Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani emphasized the importance of Iraq and Turkey working together on common projects, including the planned Iraq Development Road trade route. Additionally, the presence of PKK militants in Iraq has implications for energy projects and water rights, given that the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which provide much of Iraq’s water supply, originate in Turkey.
One of the key issues affecting Iraq-Turkey relations is the shutdown of an oil pipeline from the Kurdish region to Turkey since March 2023 due to a dispute over oil exports. Both Baghdad and Kurdish authorities in Irbil have clashed over the sharing of oil and gas revenues. Moreover, Turkish dams have contributed to a decrease in Iraq’s water supply, leading to concerns about water scarcity. Iraqi experts fear that climate change could worsen existing water shortages in the country.
The agreements signed during Erdoğan’s visit aim to strengthen cooperation between Iraq and Turkey in various areas, including security, energy, and water management. The joint efforts against the PKK and discussions on shared interests such as the Iraq Development Road trade route reflect the importance of bilateral relations. With ongoing issues related to energy projects, water rights, and regional security, both countries will need to work together to address mutual concerns effectively. Erdoğan’s visit signals a new chapter in Iraq-Turkey relations with potential implications for regional stability and cooperation in the future.
