Iraq

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat on Monday expressed Türkiye's strong backing for Iraq's Great Development Road Project, a ambitious initiative aimed at revolutionizing regional connectivity.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat is embarking on a two-day visit to Iraq, seeking to boost economic cooperation.

Bolat's visit, accompanied by delegations from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and Turkish Contractors Association (TMB), will include stops in the capital Baghdad and the southern city of Basra, Trade Ministry sources said.

The transport ministers of Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to establish a coordination committee to jointly manage the Development Road Project and have reached an agreement on a memorandum declaration, an official said.

The ministers met in Baghdad on Oct. 31.

Turkish Contractors Association (TMB) President Erdal Eren and the accompanying delegation have paid a visit to Iraq explore investment opportunities.

Iraq has announced the establishment of 22 new border outposts to enhance border security with neighboring Türkiye.

General Muhammad Abdulwahab Sikir, the commander of the Iraqi Border Guards, visited the brigade that oversees the Iraq-Türkiye border within the Dohuk Governorate.

Ankara and Baghdad have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at facilitating the voluntary return of Iraqi citizens from Türkiye, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein commended the robust ties between Iraq and Türkiye on Tuesday, emphasizing that any outstanding issues between the neighboring countries would be addressed through dialogue.

"Our relationship with Türkiye is going well," Hussein stated in an interview with Anadolu Agency outside the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Türkiye and Iraq are demonstrating a strong and unified commitment to combating terrorism, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Öncü Keçeli stated on Thursday. 

The transport ministers of Türkiye, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will gather in Istanbul on Aug. 29 to discuss the Development Road project aimed at connecting Iraq's Grand Faw Port to Türkiye's southern border.

The initiative is seen as a potential alternative trade route to the Suez Canal.

Türkiye and Iraq will appoint a general each to a new security center planned for Baghdad, defense sources told local media on Aug. 22.

The announcement follows a landmark agreement signed last week aimed at bolstering military and security cooperation between the neighbors.