Sudani, Erdogan discuss bilateral ties, sign 10 MoUs

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in Ankara on Thursday, where the two sides discussed overall bilateral relations and the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries last year. The two leaders additionally signed ten new agreements, defense industry collaboration and training within Iraq’s interior ministry.

In a joint presser with the Turkish president, Sudani stated that Iraq shares with Turkey “deep bonds of neighborhood, mutual interests, shared history, and social and religious ties,” adding that the relationship between the two nations “is based on fundamental pillars, foremost among them is the security dimension and the challenge of terrorism, which is a common enemy of both countries.”

The Iraqi premier reiterated “Iraq’s clear position on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), recognizing it as a banned organization under Iraqi law. According to our constitution, we do not allow any group to use Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries.”

He further welcomed “the political process aimed at disarming the PKK.”

Turkey and the PKK have been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially struggled for an independent Kurdistan but now calls for increased political and cultural rights within Turkey. Ankara and its Western allies consider the group a terrorist organization.

In late February, Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) relayed a landmark message by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, in which he called on the PKK to disarm and disband. Importantly, the Turkish President, Erdogan, earlier on Thursday, anticipated that the group will lay down its weapons and disband “either today or tomorrow.”

Earlier in the day Sudani’s office reported on a meeting held between the Iraqi premier and the Turkish president.
In its statement, the Iraqi premier’s offices quoted the two leaders as reaffirming “their commitment to continuing joint efforts to strengthen cooperation.”

Sudani was further cited as emphasizing “the mutual desire to implement the outcomes of the Strategic Framework Agreement for Cooperation, which aims to enhance the two countries' ability to address common challenges.”

The agreement, signed between Iraq and Turkey in April 2024, spans a wide range of areas including security, trade, infrastructure, water, and education.

A key element of the Strategic Framework Agreement is enhanced security collaboration, particularly through the creation of a Joint Security Coordination Center in Baghdad and a Joint Training and Cooperation Center in northern Iraq. These facilities are intended to improve coordination on counterterrorism efforts, especially those targeting the PKK.

On the economic front, the agreement led to the formation of a Joint Economic Trade Committee, alongside several memoranda of understanding aimed at boosting trade, investment, and mutual economic interests.

Among the most ambitious initiatives is the $17 billion Development Road Project - also known as the Dry Canal Project - which will connect southern Iraq to the Turkish border via a modern rail and road network.

The Iraqi premier on Thursday highlighted the importance of the Development Road Project and “its contributions to both international and regional economic integration, enhancing trade between Iraq and Turkey, and creating numerous opportunities for development.”

Earlier in the day, Sudani also spoke to the state-run Turkish news agency about the key project, describing it as “one of the most important projects in the Middle East” and “a strategic project for the countries of the region, especially for Turkey.”

"We want Iraqi-Turkish relations to be part of the regional stability equation," Sudani added.

The Turkish Presidency also quoted President Erdogan as stating, during his Thursday presser with the Iraqi premier that “The Development Road Project will significantly contribute to the stability and prosperity of both Iraq and our entire region.”

The Turkish president stated that he discussed with the Iraqi premier “steps to implement the project rapidly. We invite countries that are interested in the Development Road to become part of this strategic project.”

On the regional front, Sudani and Erdogan were quoted by the Iraqi premier’s office as addressing “key regional events and developments.” The two leaders “condemned the ongoing [Israeli] aggression in Gaza and emphasized the alignment of Iraq and Turkey’s positions on the matter.”

In October 2023, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel responded with a massive offensive in Gaza that killed 52,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Some 118,014 have also been wounded.

Following 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire which went into effect in mid-January. However, on March 18, Israel launched new attacks on Gaza, killing more than 2,300 Palestinians and injuring more than 2500 others, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel says the offensive aims to secure the return of 59 hostages still held by Hamas.

Since early March, Israel has barred all supplies - including food, water and medicine - from entering Gaza, to pressure Hamas to renegotiate the ceasefire.

Sudani and Erdogan on Thursday underscored “the importance of allowing humanitarian aid to enter and the complete withdrawal of occupying forces,” according to the Iraqi prime minister’s office.

In regard to Syria, the Iraqi premier and Turkish president “reaffirmed their support for stability and political transition in Syria, assisting the Syrian people in their crisis, promoting national sovereignty, rejecting external interference in domestic affairs, and ensuring the protection of Syria's diversity and social pluralism.”

Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - on December 8 toppled the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. In late January, Sharaa was appointed as the country’s interim president.

While Turkey, a long-time backer of Syria’s anti-Assad opposition, quickly emerged as a key ally of the new government in Damascus, Iraq adopted a more cautious approach.

Upon his late January appointment, Syria’s interim President, Sharaa, was congratulated by most Arab countries, while Iraq notably withheld its support. Baghdad’s hesitation signaled caution in its approach to the new leadership in Damascus. Of note, Baghdad was a close ally of Assad.

However, signs of a thaw have emerged in recent weeks, when Sudani met Sharaa in Qatar in mid-April. Ten days later, Iraq officially invited Sharaa attend the Arab League summit scheduled for May 17 in Baghdad.

In another statement, Sudani’s office confirmed that the Iraqi prime minister and Turkish president jointly presided over the signing of ten new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

These included agreements on defense industry collaboration and the exchange of technical expertise, the establishment of procedures for the voluntary repatriation of Iraqi citizens currently residing in Turkey, and initiatives aimed at judicial cooperation and the joint fight against illicit drug trafficking.

Additional MoUs were signed to enhance training and capacity-building efforts within Iraq’s Ministry of Interior.

The agreements also covered cooperation in disaster management, digital public relations, educational partnerships - including the opening of Turkish university branches in Iraq - and technical fields such as metrology and calibration.