Beirut: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to visit Ankara on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, marking the third stop in his series of foreign visits since taking office. The visit to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscores Iraq's growing engagement with regional neighbors and the wider international community as part of its foreign policy strategy.
According to Anadolu Agency, Al-Zaidi's visit aims to consolidate the strategic partnership between Iraq and Trkiye, which has seen significant expansion in recent years across various fields. Discussions are expected to cover economic cooperation, security, energy, water, and the coordination of bilateral positions on regional issues. This visit comes at a time of regional transformations that could shape the future of the Middle East, with Iraq seeking to restore its role in the region's political and security landscape.
The relationship between Iraq and Trkiye is built on four principal pillars: trade and energy, security, water, and the Development Road project. Water and security are particularly consequential issues that have historically determined the trajectory of bilateral relations. Differences in strategic calculations regarding these dossiers have occasionally led to disputes and instability, especially since 2003.
Iraq has reservations about Trkiye's approach to water, linking it to Baghdad's policy towards the PKK, which uses northern Iraq as a safe haven to launch attacks against Turkish forces. This divergence has led to a crisis of confidence reflected in the political conduct of both governments. Nevertheless, agreements such as the Framework Agreement on Water and the Security Memorandum of Understanding have laid a foundation for strategic understanding and long-term cooperation.
The Iraqi government recently decided to activate the water framework agreement with Trkiye, highlighting the importance of water security in Iraq's national security considerations. Baghdad expects Ankara to propose practical measures during the visit to support Iraq's water security efforts.
Security cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, marked by Iraq's classification of the PKK as a "banned organization" and the signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding on Military and Security Cooperation and Counterterrorism" in 2024. This cooperation aims to prevent the use of Iraqi territory for attacks against neighboring countries and align with Trkiye's goal of achieving a "terror-free Trkiye."
The Development Road project, a key component of Iraqi-Turkish relations, seeks to enhance economic and commercial connectivity between the two countries and the Arabian Gulf. Prime Minister Al-Zaidi's recent meeting with the Turkish Minister of Transport emphasized the establishment of a mechanism for financing and implementing the project to generate economic opportunities.
During Al-Zaidi's visit, several memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed to expand bilateral cooperation in vital sectors. This aligns with the strategic framework agreement signed in 2024, which serves as a roadmap for a comprehensive partnership between Iraq and Trkiye.
Al-Zaidi's visit is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, with Iraq seeking alternative routes for its oil exports amid regional disruptions. Negotiations between Iraqi and Turkish officials aim to reach an agreement on exporting Iraqi oil through Turkish ports, following disruptions caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Both countries aim to expand bilateral trade, currently valued at $17 billion, with a target of increasing it to $30 billion. The shared interests of Iraq and Trkiye in promoting cooperation and rejecting conflict are viewed as essential for advancing regional stability and peace.