Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to make his first official visit to Iraq in over a decade on Monday, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two countries. One of the key issues on the agenda is Turkey's fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group with a presence in northern Iraq.
Other significant topics to be discussed during Erdogan's visit include water supply issues and the resumption of oil and gas exports from northern Iraq to Turkey, which have been halted for more than a year. The last time Erdogan visited Iraq was in 2011 when he was serving as Turkey's prime minister.
The Iraqi government spokesperson stated that Erdogan's visit will mark a significant milestone in Iraqi-Turkish relations. The visit is expected to include the signing of agreements on a joint approach to security challenges and a strategic deal concerning water-related matters.
Turkey has expressed its intention to launch a major operation against the PKK during the summer, aiming to eliminate the threat posed by the group. Ankara plans to establish a security corridor along the border with Iraq to address security concerns.
While the PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, Baghdad has previously raised concerns about Turkish military operations against the group violating Iraqi sovereignty. However, recent developments indicate a closer alignment between Iraq and Turkey on addressing the PKK threat.
Energy cooperation and the potential resumption of oil flow through a pipeline to Turkey are also expected to be key topics of discussion during the visit. The pipeline from the Kurdish region to Turkey has been inactive since March 2023 due to disputes over oil exports and revenue sharing between Baghdad and Kurdish authorities.
Water rights are likely to be a crucial issue on the agenda, with Iraqi officials expressing concerns about reduced water supply from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, originating in Turkey. Climate change is expected to exacerbate water shortages in Iraq, prompting the need for collaborative solutions.
Residents in Iraq, such as Mustafa Hassan from Baghdad, are hopeful that Erdogan's visit will contribute to resolving water scarcity issues that are impacting agriculture in the region.
