Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani in Ankara to discuss regional developments, bilateral relations, and joint efforts to ensure stability across Iraq and neighboring regions.

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a meeting with Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in Ankara on Wednesday.

According to a statement released by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and ways to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest between Türkiye, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region.

Reports from regional media outlets, including Rudaw and Shafaq News, indicated that the talks also covered water management, cross-border security coordination, and economic partnership opportunities. Barzani reportedly emphasized the importance of maintaining coordination between Ankara, Baghdad, and Erbil to ensure long-term stability and protect shared interests.

The meeting comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen Türkiye’s engagement with both the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, particularly on issues related to security cooperation and trade infrastructure.

Barzani, in a post shared on his official social media account, expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s continued dialogue and reiterated his commitment to “enhancing cooperation for regional peace and stability.”

While the Turkish Foreign Ministry has not released detailed information regarding specific agreements or memorandums signed during the meeting, diplomatic sources described the atmosphere as constructive and forward-looking, highlighting both sides’ intent to sustain regular consultations.

The meeting marks another step in Türkiye’s broader strategy of reinforcing its relations with northern Iraq amid evolving regional dynamics.(ILKHA)