Erdogan to visit Iraq for first time in 12 years; talks on Suez Canal alternative planned

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced plans for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iraq in late April, marking the first visit in 12 years.

During this visit, the two nations intend to sign a framework agreement to deepen cooperation across various sectors, including security, agriculture, economics, and water management.

"In anticipation of the visit, Turkish authorities have banned the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a Kurdish separatist organization engaged in armed conflict against Turkey and designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union," Fidan stated.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) maintains its primary bases in remote areas of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Turkish military has been conducting operations against these bases, sparking tensions with the Iraqi government, which views these actions as a violation of its sovereignty.

According to the Israeli publication Globes, enhanced collaboration between Iraq and Turkey could pave the way for the establishment of a land transport corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea, offering an alternative route to the Suez Canal.