Turkish FM in Iraq to Discuss Trade, Security, Water

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is capping off an official two-day visit to Iraq to discuss bilateral trade, border security and water-related issues with his counterpart, Mohamed Alhakim. Cavusoglu announced that Turkey would send a special representative to Iraq to discuss the plethora of available water resources after a particularly wet winter caused flooding in both countries. For his part, Alhakim said Baghdad would move to enhance trade with Ankara and called on Turkish firms to invest in Iraq. The Turkish government is seeking new oil suppliers after the United States announced it would not renew sanctions waivers granted to countries, including Turkey, permitting them to continue purchasing Iranian crude. Iraq is one of Turkey’s leading oil providers and, following decades of political and security turmoil, is on track to become the world’s third biggest exporter.