Turkey-Iraq sign military cooperation, trust agreement

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi hold a press conference after their meeting at Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 15 May 2019. [Erçin Top – Anadolu Agency]

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey and Iraq have signed a mutually beneficial military cooperation and trust agreement after day-long meetings in the capital Ankara, Anadolu reports.

Erdogan received Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in an official ceremony at the presidential palace.

The two leaders exchanged views on several regional and international issues.

In a joint news conference after dinner, Erdogan said the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of the two countries will meet soon to discuss further details of the agreements.

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Erdogan went on to say that Turkey and Iraq are on the same page regarding Syria’s territorial integrity.

On the energy front, Iraqi and Turkish leaders highlighted the importance of reopening the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline which has been vandalized by the Daesh terror group.

Abdul-Mahdi said: “We will never accept any security threat against Turkey stemming from the territory of Iraq.”

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