The legal framework of our political relations with our neighbor Iraq was
established with the signing of the "Treaty between the United Kingdom and
Iraq and Türkiye Regarding the Settlement of the Frontier between Türkiye
and Iraq" on 5 June 1926. As for our diplomatic relations, it dates back to
1928, when Sabih Neşet, the first Iraqi Ambassador, took office in our
country. Our first ambassador to Baghdad was Tahir Lütfü Tokalp, who took
office in 1929. After Iraq declared its independence from the British
mandate on October 3, 1932, bilateral relations began to be carried out
exclusively between Ankara and Baghdad.
Türkiye and Iraq have deep-rooted historical, cultural and human ties. The
main pillars of our relations with Iraq are the preservation of the
political unity and territorial integrity of Iraq; further enhancement of
relations in the fields of investment, trade, transportation and
infrastructure; strengthening cooperation in the field of security and
fight against terrorism, especially against the PKK terrorist organization;
and promotion of the rights of the Iraqi Turkmens which constitute a human
bridge bringing two countries even closer.
With the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSC) established in
2009, it was aimed to build an institutional coordination mechanism for our
relations. HLSC has met three times so far, the last of which was in
Baghdad on January 7, 2017.
Following a relatively static period due to political turmoil in Iraq and
subsequent Covid-19 pandemic, the official visit of Iraqi Prime Minister
Mohammed Sudani to our country on March 21-22, 2023 brought impetus to our
relations. During the visit, “Ankara Declaration between the Republic of
Türkiye and the Republic of Iraq on Cooperation within the Scope of Trade,
Transport and Development Road Project” was adopted. Subsequently, Minister
of Foreign Affairs H.E. Hakan Fidan visited Iraq on 22-24 August 2023,
which was followed by intense mutual contacts at technical and political
levels.
This positive course was crowned with the visit of the President of the
Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Iraq on April 22, 2024,
after a 13-year interval. This visit is considered to be an historical
landmark in terms of translating the common will to strengthen bilateral
relations in all fields, into concrete outcomes. Within this framework, 27
legal texts were signed in such fields as transportation, energy, industry,
agriculture, science, investments, trade, social security, transboundary
waters, the Development Road Project, and security. One of these legal
texts, “Strategic Framework Agreement for Joint Cooperation” aims to
institutionalize our bilateral relations and build a structural framework
to this end. This Agreement stipulates the establishment of a Joint
Planning Group co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers under the HLSC, and
Joint Standing Committees for addressing different aspects of our bilateral
relations. All these mechanisms are expected to sustain incessant dialogue
and engagement between two countries
Economic Relations
Trade is one of the most prominent areas of cooperation in our relations
with Iraq. In 2022, Iraq became our third export destination, and the
bilateral trade volume exceeded 24.1 Billion US Dollars, breaking a record.
In 2023, our bilateral trade volume was approximately 20 Billion USD
(Exports: 12.7 Billion Dollars, Imports: 7.1 Billion Dollars). While crude
oil is the main import product, various manufactured goods, grains,
textiles, food, furniture, machinery, iron and steel products are exported
to Iraq.
Iraq is one of the markets where our international contracting sector is
most active. To date, Turkish companies have undertaken 1,101 projects
worth approximately 35 billion US Dollars. Iraq ranks 3 rd
country in the world, in terms of the projects undertaken by Turkish
construction companies.
Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meetings play an important role in our
economic and commercial relations with Iraq. The latest (19th)
of the JEC meetings was held in Baghdad on 21-22 November 2023.
The Development Road Project which sets forth an additional transport
corridor for strengthening the “connectivity” between Asia and Europe, is
another topic that comes to the forefront in our positive agenda with Iraq.
This strategic project, the foundations of which were laid in the early
2000s, aims to connect the Al-Fav Port, which is under construction in
Basra, the only province of Iraq that opens to the sea, to our country with
a two-way highway and railway of approximately 1200 km in length. It
envisages the transportation of goods from the Gulf countries and Asia to
Europe. As the natural partner of the project, Türkiye fully supports the
Project which is expected to contribute positively to the development of
Iraq and the region, as well as to the regional stability and security. Our
common will to realize the Project has been registered with the MoUs signed
bilaterally between Turkey and Iraq, and quadrilaterally between
Turkey-Iraq-Qatar-UAE during President Erdoğan's visit to Iraq.
Security
Security cooperation and the PKK terrorist organization’s presence in Iraq
in particular, remains high on our bilateral agenda with Iraq. PKK carried
out 1084 terrorist attacks towards our country from Iraqi territory in
2023. Our expectation is the removal of the PKK’s presence in Iraq,
especially in the regions adjacent to our border, in Qandil, Sinjar,
Makhmour Camp and Sulaymaniyah.
Recently, contacts between our country and Iraq in the field of security
and counter-terrorism have been intensified. Within the scope of the
High-Level Security Mechanism (HLSM) meeting on December 19, 2023, it was
acknowledged by Iraq that the terrorist organization PKK poses a “common
threat” to our countries. Subsequently, Iraq decided to enlist the PKK as a
"banned organization" (March 2024) which was welcomed by Türkiye. The
fourth meeting of HLSM was held in Ankara on August 15, 2024, under the
co-chairmanship of the Foreign Ministers of both countries. At the end of
the meeting, the "Memorandum of Understanding on Military, Security and
Counterterrorism Cooperation" was signed by the Ministers of Defense of the
two countries.
On the other hand, our cross-border operations against the terrorist
organization that threatens our national security as well as regional
stability and Iraq's sovereignty, are carried out in accordance with
international law (Article 51 of the UN Charter) and within the framework
of our right to self-defense.