Kurdistan Region and Turkey strengthen ties, paving the way for oil exports

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday welcomed Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister, Berris Ekinci, along with a high-level delegation, including Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq, the Consul General of Turkey in the Kurdistan Region, and key representatives from the energy sector, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Discussions focused on enhancing ties between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, with a particular emphasis on energy collaboration and water management. A major highlight of the talks was the progress made toward resuming oil exports from the Kurdistan Region—a move expected to boost economic stability and benefit all sides.

Both parties expressed optimism regarding recent amendments to Iraq’s budget law, which are anticipated to streamline the oil export process. They also reviewed necessary preparations to ensure a smooth resumption of oil exports, which is set to bring positive economic impacts for both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

President Barzani reaffirmed that restarting oil exports would strengthen Iraq’s national revenues and foster closer regional cooperation. He emphasized the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to working alongside Turkey in the energy sector to ensure mutual prosperity.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ekinci welcomed the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on oil exports, reaffirming Turkey’s strong support for the initiative. She also expressed Turkey’s willingness to collaborate with Iraq on water resource management and climate change challenges.  

The meeting concluded with both sides highlighting the importance of continued cooperation across various sectors, reinforcing a shared vision for stability and economic growth in the region.