Turkey, Iraq to hold high-level security talks in Ankara

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Senior officials from Turkey and Iraq are set to hold high-level discussions in Ankara on Thursday, aiming to strengthen cooperation on security issues, a Turkish diplomatic source confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the source, the meeting will mark the first session of the newly formed "Joint Planning Group," established during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Iraq.

The group is headed by the foreign ministers of both countries and seeks to institutionalize and sustain bilateral cooperation.

The discussions will focus on the implementation of 27 agreements signed during Erdogan's visit and the evaluation of potential joint initiatives.

This move signifies a significant step forward in the relationship between the two nations, which has been strained in recent years.

Tensions have primarily revolved around Turkey's cross-border military operations against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq. While Iraq views these operations as a violation of its sovereignty, Turkey argues that they are necessary for its national security.

Relations between the two countries have seen improvement since last year, following an agreement to hold high-level security talks. Erdogan's visit to Baghdad in April was a pivotal moment, with both sides agreeing that their relationship had entered a new phase.

So far, three rounds of meetings have taken place under the dialogue mechanism, with a significant outcome being Iraq's decision to classify the PKK as a "banned organization" during talks held in March, a move that was welcomed by Ankara.

The PKK, which has been engaged in an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.