SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Iraq and Turkey have signed a pivotal memorandum of understanding (MoU), marking a significant step in military, security, and counter-terrorism cooperation. The agreement was announced following two days of high-level discussions in Ankara.
The MoU was unveiled by the Foreign Ministers of both countries during a joint press conference. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, alongside Kurdistan Region’s Interior Minister Rebar Ahmad and Falih al-Fayyadh, head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to finalize the agreement.
Fidan highlighted the MoU as a major advancement in the bilateral relationship, focusing on enhanced security measures and counter-terrorism strategies. Hussein described the agreement as “unprecedented” and pivotal in the countries’ history.
A key element of the MoU is the planned transformation of the Turkish Bashiqa military base in Nineveh province into a training facility. Established in 2016 to support Iraqi forces against ISIS, the base will now play a role in broader security efforts.
Hussein emphasized the importance of monitoring the agreement’s implementation through a newly established joint commission.
In an unprecedented move in July, the Iraqi Council of Ministers mandated that all government offices and institutions refer to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as the “Banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party” in official communications, reinforcing Iraq’s commitment to the March 2024 security pact with Turkey.
Earlier this month, the Iraqi Electoral Commission’s (IHEC) judicial body decided to dissolve three political parties due to their connections with the PKK. This decision represents the latest action in addressing this issue, affirming that such organizations’ activities are unacceptable within Iraq.
In recent years, there has been escalating tension between the neighboring countries due to Ankara’s cross-border military operations aimed at PKK fighters in the Kurdistan Region, which Iraq has previously condemned as an incursion.
