Turkish National Defence Ministry Announces Support for Iraq on Border Safety Systems
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: The Turkish National Defence Ministry declared on Thursday its readiness to extend support to Iraq in enhancing border safety systems, as part of ongoing efforts to bolster bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The announcement follows comprehensive discussions on Türkiye-Iraq relations, conducted within a broad framework during the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq on Monday. Accompanied by National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, President Erdogan engaged in discussions aimed at strengthening ties and addressing shared security concerns, according to security sources familiar with the briefing.
A primary focus of the discussions was the collaborative efforts against terrorist organizations and their affiliates, with particular attention directed towards combating groups such as the PKK, FETO, and Daesh.
“As part of these discussions, agreements and understandings were reached to enhance cooperation in counterterrorism and security measures,” stated the security sources. Notably, negotiations are ongoing with the Iraqi authorities to formalize the establishment of a Security Joint Coordination Center, aimed at institutionalizing and maintaining cooperation in areas of security, joint border security, and counterterrorism.
Highlighting Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Iraq in bolstering border security, the sources affirmed Türkiye’s readiness to provide assistance in deploying advanced border safety systems. Iraqi officials have reportedly visited Türkiye to evaluate existing border security infrastructure and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
During the briefing, Brigadier Admiral Zeki Akturk, the ministry spokesman, underscored the signing of a memorandum of understanding on military training cooperation and a protocol on education and cooperation in military health. These agreements signify a concerted effort to expand the scope of military training cooperation activities and elevate military relations between Türkiye and Iraq to a more advanced level.
Akturk emphasized the significance of cooperation in combating terrorism, emphasizing the mutual aim for stronger collaboration under the Memorandum of Understanding on the Strategic Framework signed during President Erdogan’s visit to Iraq.
Furthermore, Türkiye welcomed Iraq’s decision to designate the PKK as a “banned group” and expressed expectations for further steps to classify it as a terrorist organization, reflecting Türkiye’s firm stance against terrorism and commitment to regional stability and security.
