IRAQ AND TURKEY DEEPEN STRATEGIC TIES WITH MAJOR OIL, DEFENSE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENTS
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who returned from Washington last week after holding talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, met today in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in what appeared to be one of the highest-level strategic meetings between Iraq and Turkey in recent years.
The two leaders announced a series of agreements covering energy, defense, security, and regional connectivity, signaling a significant expansion of bilateral cooperation.
Turkey to Receive One Million Barrels of Iraqi Oil Per Day
One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was an agreement under which Iraq will supply Turkey with one million barrels of oil per day, a volume that Erdoğan said would be sufficient to meet Turkey’s domestic oil demand.
Speaking during a joint press conference, Erdoğan stated:
“Turkey will receive one million barrels of oil from Iraq. God willing, if we obtain one million barrels of oil per day from our neighbor Iraq, it will cover Turkey’s oil needs.”
If implemented, the agreement would make Iraq Turkey’s principal oil supplier and further strengthen energy cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Iraq to Receive Turkish Defense Systems
In return, Iraq is expected to receive a broad range of Turkish military equipment and defense technology.
According to the announced agreements, Turkey will provide Iraq with defense capabilities including:
Air defense systems designed to counter drones.
Advanced radar systems.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Additional military equipment and defense technologies requested by Baghdad.
The defense cooperation reflects Iraq’s efforts to modernize its armed forces while expanding security partnerships with regional allies.
Development Road Project Approved
The meeting also advanced the long-discussed Development Road Project, an ambitious transport corridor intended to connect Iraq with Europe through Turkish territory.
The project is designed to transform Iraq into a major trade and logistics hub linking Asia and Europe while attracting foreign investment and strengthening economic cooperation with European countries.
Officials view the corridor as one of Iraq’s most important long-term economic initiatives.
Security Cooperation Focuses on Qandil Mountains
President Erdoğan also announced that Turkey will assist Iraq in restoring full government control over its territory, particularly the Qandil Mountains, an area in northern Iraq long associated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Why the Qandil Mountains Matter
The Qandil Mountains have long been regarded as one of the PKK’s primary strongholds. Previous Iraqi governments were often reluctant to fully embrace Turkish security proposals regarding the area.
However, more recent Iraqi administrations have increasingly concluded that the Development Road Project cannot be fully implemented unless Baghdad establishes effective control over regions currently influenced by or associated with PKK activity.
Officials argue that securing these areas is essential if Iraq hopes to enter a new phase of economic growth and become a strategic transit corridor connecting Asia and Europe.
Despite this, reports suggest that some political and regional actors remain opposed to efforts aimed at placing all Iraqi territory under the full authority of the central government.
The agreements reached in Ankara mark a significant step toward closer Iraq–Turkey cooperation, combining energy security, defense collaboration, infrastructure development, and regional security into a broader strategic partnership that could reshape economic and geopolitical dynamics across the region.