Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraq and Turkey agreed to deepen cooperation on security, energy, commerce, and the centerpiece Development Road project on Tuesday as Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi wrapped up his first official visit to Ankara since taking office.
Following conversations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two sides agreed to speed up the development of the Development Road corridor, which connects Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to Turkey and then to Europe, while also working to finalize a comprehensive bilateral energy cooperation deal.
In a joint statement, Baghdad and Ankara stated that they would strengthen cooperation in water resources, energy, trade, agriculture, transportation, investment, defense industries, and education, describing the Development Road as a critical project for increasing regional connectivity, economic integration, and long-term stability.
The two nations also reiterated their commitment to strengthening security cooperation in the face of transnational threats.
Erdogan commended Iraq’s support for Turkey’s war against extremist organizations, and both sides agreed to strengthen information sharing and security cooperation to defend their borders and maintain regional peace.
The visit comes as Iraq wants to improve economic ties with neighboring nations while portraying itself as a regional transportation and logistics center, linking the Gulf to Europe via new road, rail, and energy infrastructure.
Al-Zaidi’s travel comes after recent trips to the United States and Iran, where Iraq inked investment, transportation, and energy deals as part of a larger diplomatic effort to attract international investment and diversify the economy beyond oil.
The two countries also agreed to improve the legal framework regulating bilateral ties by ratifying outstanding agreements, signing new cooperation instruments, and holding the fifth meeting of the Iraq-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Baghdad at a later date.
On regional concerns, Baghdad and Ankara said they would continue to closely coordinate on Middle Eastern events, confirming Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and pushing for increased regional stability.
Both parties underlined their support for the Palestinian cause.
The countries also agreed to celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations next year with reciprocal visits and commemorative events, highlighting what both governments described as a strategic partnership that has expanded beyond security cooperation to include trade, energy, infrastructure, and regional connectivity.