Fidan Holds High-Level Talks in Baghdad to Strengthen Türkiye-Iraq Relations

Baghdad, The Gulf Observer: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a series of high-level meetings in Baghdad on Sunday during his official visit to Iraq, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed.

Fidan met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid at the Baghdad Palace, where he was received alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. According to a statement from the Iraqi Presidency, the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq and Türkiye across multiple fields, as well as addressing regional developments and shared efforts to promote stability and security.

President Rashid reiterated Iraq’s commitment to pursuing an open-door policy and fostering partnerships based on mutual respect and good-neighborly relations with both regional and international partners. He emphasized the principles of sovereignty, equality, and shared interests as key pillars of Iraq’s national policy.

Highlighting a major concern, the president also called for the adoption of a fair and sustainable water-sharing policy that guarantees Iraq’s acquired rights in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. He underscored the importance of improving water management practices to minimize waste and ensure long-term sustainability.

For his part, Minister Fidan expressed Türkiye’s keenness to deepen cooperation with Iraq and to explore new areas of partnership. He stressed the need to expand joint projects that serve both nations’ shared interests and strengthen bilateral coordination and communication.

In addition to meeting with President Rashid, Fidan also held separate talks with Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and President of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan. The Turkish foreign minister further met with Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Muhammad Saeed Riza Al-Abbas, al-Hashd al-Shaabi Chairperson Falih Alfayyadh, and Mehmet Seman Agaoglu, head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, as part of his comprehensive visit aimed at advancing Türkiye-Iraq relations.