ISTANBUL: Top Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, will attend a security meeting in Iraq on Thursday, a Turkish ministry spokesman said.
The meeting, slated to take place in Baghdad, will primarily focus on security and military cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, with a particular emphasis on joint counter-terrorism efforts. The spokesperson emphasized that addressing common security threats, notably the activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), will be a key agenda item during the discussions.
Turkey has frequently conducted ground and air operations in northern Iraq targeting PKK positions, as part of its longstanding struggle against the militant group, which has been engaged in a protracted insurgency against the Turkish government for decades.
Security Cooperation Between Turkey and Iraq
The spokesperson underscored the significance of Iraqi authorities’ recognition of the PKK as a shared security menace, interpreting it as a positive indication of Iraq’s commitment to combatting the PKK insurgency.
For over two decades, Turkey has maintained several military bases in northern Iraq to combat the PKK insurgency, which Ankara and its Western allies classify as a terrorist organization.
Addressing the issue of border security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently stated that Turkey aims to permanently resolve border-related issues with Iraq by this summer.
Moreover, the spokesperson expressed optimism regarding the reopening of an oil pipeline between Turkey and Iraq, which was shut down in March 2023. Discussions on this matter are expected to take place during Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Iraq.
