policy
The Turkish Ministry of Defense affirmed on Thursday that the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to Ankara holds significant importance for enhancing regional security and stability. This affirmation came in a statement issued by the Ministry in response to a journalistic inquiry concerning bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq, following the weekly press conference held by the Ministry's Public Relations and Press Advisor and Spokesperson, Zeki Aktürk. The Ministry clarified that the meeting between the Iraqi Prime Minister and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with the subsequent signing of agreements, carries great significance in supporting security and stability at the regional level. It added that "the growing cooperation between Turkey and Iraq in recent years has been a crucial factor in achieving tangible successes in the fight against terrorism." The Ministry continued: "Cooperation in the security field between the two countries remains uninterrupted, with the continuous activation of joint mechanisms and firm coordination regarding border security and countering terrorist threats." The Ministry also indicated that both sides had reached mutual understandings in previous meetings aimed at increasing coordination and cooperation in the areas of border protection, counter-terrorism, and the development of defense industries. Furthermore, it noted that recent discussions between the two states particularly focused on economic partnership and the energy sector, while simultaneously emphasizing that the mechanisms previously established in the security sector continue to operate effectively and efficiently. The Turkish Ministry of Defense stressed that strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the two countries not only contributes to supporting regional stability but also holds critical importance for the security and prosperity of Iraqi Turkmens. President Erdoğan had officially received Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Zaidi last Tuesday with a formal ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The discussions between the two leaders culminated in the signing of five agreements covering cooperation in educational, academic, and police fields, as well as the youth and sports sectors, in addition to memoranda of understanding regarding cooperation in industrial property, transportation, and infrastructure.
