Erdogan and Al-Sudani Discuss Regional Tensions, Strengthen Bilateral Ties
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential complex in Ankara. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations, regional developments, and international issues of mutual concern.
According to a joint statement released by Iraq and Turkey, the meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere characterized by mutual trust and good neighborly relations. Both sides affirmed their dedication to continuing this constructive approach and bolstering the strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Al-Sudani and Erdogan also oversaw the signing of several memoranda of understanding between the two countries. The parties expressed satisfaction with the current level of bilateral relations and reiterated their commitment to the continuous development of these ties across various sectors through regular consultations within existing frameworks.
Both sides emphasized the significance of the ‘High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council,’ the ‘Joint Planning Group,’ and the ‘Permanent Joint Committees,’ which have been established to create an institutional and strategic framework for the sustainable development of relations. The parties agreed to host the fifth session of the Strategic Cooperation Council in Baghdad.
Furthermore, they reached an agreement to strengthen the legal foundation of their relationship by completing the ratification processes for existing agreements, signing new documents in areas with cooperation potential, implementing signed accords, and activating joint committees.
In the realm of security cooperation, Erdogan and Al-Sudani highlighted the importance of preserving the sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and political unity of the region’s countries, which contributes to regional stability. Erdogan expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government for supporting Turkey’s efforts in its campaign against terrorism. Necessary joint measures concerning counter-terrorism and security were also discussed, with a focus on terrorist groups that threaten the security of both nations. The Iraqi side stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation and joint security coordination to eliminate cross-border threats and safeguard the security and sovereignty of the two neighboring countries.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the convergence of their stances on current regional developments and agreed to maintain close coordination on these matters, particularly concerning the Palestinian issue.
Ankara and Baghdad have recently moved towards expanding their economic partnership by focusing on increasing trade volume and initiating strategic projects. The ‘Development Road Project’ stands out as a key initiative, aiming to connect the Grand Faw Port in Basra to Turkey’s borders and subsequently to Europe via railway and road networks. However, disagreements over Iraq’s water allocations from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers continue to fuel recurrent political tensions between the two countries, negatively impacting the trajectory of trade negotiations.
