Antalya Hosts 5th Türkiye-Iraq Security Mechanism Talks
The Turkish side is expected to press for further progress on Iraq’s recent move to label the PKK a "banned organization," while urging Baghdad to officially designate it a "terrorist organization" — a long-standing Turkish demand.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The fifth meeting of the Türkiye-Iraq High-Level Security Mechanism will take place Sunday in the southern Turkish province of Antalya, on the sidelines of the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, according to Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey’s state-run news outlet.
The meeting will be co-chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, with participation from senior officials from both countries’ foreign ministries, defense departments, and intelligence agencies. It marks a continuation of deepening security coordination between Ankara and Baghdad, particularly in their fight against terrorist organizations.
Per AA, a central focus of the discussions will be bolstering cooperation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), "which both nations have repeatedly condemned." The Turkish side is expected to press for further progress on Iraq’s recent move to label the PKK a "banned organization," while urging Baghdad to officially designate it a "terrorist organization" — a long-standing Turkish demand.
The meeting comes just weeks after jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan reportedly called for the group’s dissolution. Turkish and Iraqi officials are expected to assess the implications of Ocalan’s statement for regional security and counterterrorism efforts.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a four-decade insurgency that has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The group frequently uses the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s mountainous northern areas to launch attacks against Turkish forces.
The talks will also address Türkiye’s concerns about the continued presence of the "Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO)" in Iraq, particularly its affiliated educational institutions. Ankara holds FETO responsible for orchestrating the failed coup attempt in 2016 and has repeatedly called for its international dismantling.
Moreover, both sides are expected to reaffirm their commitment to joint operations against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), while emphasizing the broader need for regional cooperation under the principle of “regional solutions to regional problems.” AA added that the meeting will also include a review of wider regional developments, including the situation in Syria and "Israel’s ongoing military aggression."
"This high-level security dialogue underscores a growing alignment between Türkiye and Iraq on shared security threats and the need for robust bilateral mechanisms to counter them," AA concluded.
