Saif Zia
On the political and diplomatic horizon, the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq took place the day before yesterday, and shed light on a group of vital and sensitive files, as the importance of this visit was evident in its handling of multiple issues that constitute a basic focal point in the relations between the two countries.
Turkey and Iraq. Among these files, issues stand out: border security, as tension continues due to the presence of Kurdistan Workers’ Party forces on Iraqi territory, and the water file related to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in addition to economic challenges such as stopping the export of oil through the Kurdistan region and opening new horizons for international development and promoting the trade exchange.
This meeting shows its importance through the complexities that each individual file carries and the common interests that it could result in; With the increase in diplomatic maneuvers, it becomes clear that the Iraqi President, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani, has an influential role in exploiting the visit to achieve the maximum possible benefit. The visit is also an opportunity to confirm cooperation in the fields of energy, including the Qatari gas project passing through Iraq to Turkey. These are important issues. It is inseparable from the broader context, which includes the deterioration of the Turkish lira and the urgent need to revive the Turkish economy through trade and sustainable development.
On the security and strategic level, the visit highlighted the tensions arising from the presence of armed networks and their impact on security and stability in the region, stressing the need to reach radical solutions to ensure stability and enhance international cooperation.
This visit was held under the eyes of the world, to understand how negotiations between the two sides will enable them to overcome historical and current challenges, and how serious the two parties are in taking concrete steps towards sustainable security and economic growth. This visit has a strategic dimension that serves the mutual interests of both Baghdad and Ankara, and has laid strong foundations for future cooperation in the region.
The depth to which the discussions can reach may be pivotal in determining the features of bilateral relations for the coming years, especially since the agenda prepared for the discussions included many vital issues that remind us of old historical problems that are resurfacing again, in addition to exploring new opportunities that benefit both countries.
This meeting represented a potential turning point, as each party sought to achieve strategic gains, and the Iraqi side was concerned with increasing security stability and economic development, while Turkey sought to confirm its role as a major ally in the Middle East and a supporter of security and stability in the region.
Ultimately, this visit determined not only the course of relations between the two countries, but also the extent of their ability to confront common regional and international challenges, in a spirit of partnership and sustainable cooperation, which reflected the growing importance of achieving delicate balances in the context of multiple national and regional interests.