Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani in Istanbul on Friday for high-level discussions centered on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing regional security issues.

The leaders met at the historic Vahdettin Mansion overlooking the Bosporus, where Erdoğan provided a tour of the landmark before the talks.

The meeting, also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, focused on cooperation in the fight against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) and enhancing stability in the region. This is the second meeting between Erdoğan and Al Sudani within recent months, following their dialogue at the Turkish House in New York during the U.N. General Assembly in September.

Al Sudani’s visit comes amid intensified Turkish military operations targeting the PKK in northern Iraq's Qandil mountains. While the region falls under the administrative control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Iraq's central government has limited influence over it. Türkiye, which has established military bases in the area, considers the PKK’s presence a direct threat to its borders. Ankara maintains that these operations are vital for its security, aiming to establish a 30-40 kilometer (approximately 18-25 mile) security corridor along the border. While Iraq has previously raised sovereignty concerns, Türkiye insists on the importance of securing its boundaries.

In recent months, both countries have made strides toward enhanced security cooperation. In August, Iraq and Türkiye agreed to joint military training and the establishment of operation centers focused on combatting terrorism, marking a significant step forward following Baghdad’s designation of the PKK as a banned group. Türkiye is now pushing for Iraq to formally recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization, in line with the stance taken by the U.S., U.K., and the European Union.

The leaders’ discussions also touched on the Iraqi Development Road Project, a $17 billion infrastructure initiative intended to link the Persian Gulf to Europe through Iraq and Türkiye via an interconnected network of railways, highways, and ports. Improved regional stability is anticipated to play a critical role in advancing this ambitious project, which aims to enhance economic connectivity between the two countries and beyond.

With heightened regional security and the Development Road Project in focus, Erdoğan and Al Sudani’s meeting underscores their commitment to bolstering Turkey-Iraq relations and addressing shared challenges in a volatile region. (ILKHA)