Senior Turkish and Iraqi Officials To Discuss Counterterrorism, Energy Ties
Senior officials from Turkey and Iraq are poised to convene in Baghdad on Thursday for a pivotal summit aimed at bolstering energy cooperation, as well as addressing key security and defense concerns. The announcement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday comes amid a period of strained relations due to Turkey’s intensified cross-border operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq, which Baghdad contends infringe upon its sovereignty. Ankara, however, maintains these actions are crucial for its national security and has signaled the possibility of further incursions.
The agenda for the meetings is comprehensive, with discussions expected to cover the contentious issue of resuming oil exports through the critical pipeline that runs from Iraq to Turkey. Ankara has expressed readiness to restart operations, while Baghdad has hesitated, seeking resolution on several fronts before proceeding.
The summit, labeled a “security summit,” will see the participation of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalin, alongside their Iraqi counterparts. The focus will heavily lean on counterterrorism efforts, particularly the mutual interest in combating the PKK, which both countries, along with the United States and the European Union, designate as a terrorist organization.
Oncu Keceli, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, spoke about the constructive steps anticipated to emerge from the discussions, emphasizing the shared security concerns. “Developing a common understanding in counterterrorism and concrete steps that can be taken in that regard will be on the table,” Keceli said. “The PKK being defined as a common security threat by Iraqi authorities is a sign that the desire to battle the PKK is developing in Iraq, and we welcome this.”
The resumption of oil flows through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, halted due to a legal dispute following an arbitration ruling, also tops the agenda, with both nations keen on reaching a consensus to restart exports. Further topics of discussion include cooperation in the gas and renewable energy sectors, underscoring the broad scope of the bilateral talks. Additionally, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s expected visit to Baghdad in the spring will likely cement the outcomes of these high-level discussions.
