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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that the Development Road Project, spearheaded by Türkiye and Iraq, will make a “significant contribution” to the stability and prosperity of Iraq and the wider region.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s commitment to advancing the strategic initiative, which aims to bolster regional trade and connectivity.
“We reaffirmed our determination to continue the fight against PKK, FETO, and DAESH, which pose a threat not only to Türkiye’s national security but also to Iraq’s,” Erdogan said.
He also underscored Türkiye’s readiness to make swift progress on key bilateral issues, including the resumption of oil shipments via the Iraq-Türkiye Oil Pipeline. He praised Sudani’s “vision and determination” for playing a key role in achieving progress.
Erdogan highlighted that bilateral trade reached $18 billion in 2023 and said Türkiye is ready to deepen economic ties further. He pointed to recent cooperation mechanisms, including the Water Framework Agreement, as steps toward large-scale joint infrastructure projects.
He added that both countries are exploring expanded partnerships in energy—particularly natural gas and electricity—as well as banking, industry, and education.
“We also wish to expand cooperation in higher education and develop new opportunities in other key sectors,” Erdogan said.
Commenting on rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Erdogan said Ankara is working to defuse the crisis before it reaches “the point of no return, despite efforts by some to inflame it.”
Meanwhile, stressing the importance of Iraq developing good neighborly relations with Syria for the stability and peace of the region, Erdogan underlined Türkiye’s intention to continue working with Iraq on this matter.
Sudani, in turn, hailed the Development Road Project as a “major opportunity” to promote integration and emphasized Baghdad’s desire to enhance ties with Türkiye on a range of political, economic, and security issues.
Sudani stated that they also discussed Türkiye’s cooperation with Iraq's private sector to establish industrial zones and factories in various Iraqi cities.
He also highlighted the importance of increasing trade volume between the two countries, noting that Türkiye is one of Iraq's biggest trade partners.
He added that some regulations are being adjusted to simplify and improve bilateral trade.
“We consider Iraq’s security as part of Türkiye’s security,” Sudani said, adding the Iraqi government’s stance on the PKK remains firm.
The PKK is a “banned organization” in Iraq, Sudani said, vowing that Baghdad does not allow any group to use Iraqi territory to launch attacks against Türkiye.
The regional developments were also discussed, he said, noting that Ankara and Baghdad share common views on Palestine and Gaza.
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