Turkey and Iraq: A Potential Strengthening of Ties in Defense and Security, 4 OCT

 Turkey and Iraq: A Potential Strengthening of Ties in Defense and Security, 4 OCT

High-Level Meeting in Ankara

Iraq’s Defence Minister, Thabet al-Abbasi, will make an official visit to Turkey this week to meet his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler, according to Turkish media reports. This visit comes in the wake of heightened security concerns, following a bomb attack in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey and Iraq both recognize as a terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The Turkish authorities responded with air strikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq.

Significance of the Visit

The visit by Iraq’s Defence Minister is seen as a crucial step towards addressing the security concerns and bilateral defense issues between the two nations. Both countries are seeking to enhance their cooperation in the defense industry, which could potentially lead to the strengthening of ties and the initiation of mutual projects. However, the talks are not without challenges. The recent Turkish air strikes have been denounced by Iraq, with President Abdul Latif Rashid expressing the hope to reach an agreement with Ankara to resolve the situation.

Turkey’s Foreign Relations

Meanwhile, Turkey’s foreign relations have been under scrutiny recently. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington this week. The potential sale of F-16 fighter jets and Ankara’s refusal to support NATO membership for Sweden and Finland will be among the topics of discussion. Despite some tensions over Turkey’s acquisition of Russian missile defense systems and its stance on the Syrian Kurdish militia, the United States has praised Turkey for some of its actions during the Ukraine war, including mediating grain corridor talks.

Threats and Counteraction

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that Kurdish militants behind the recent suicide bombing in Ankara will face robust retaliation against their positions in Syria and Iraq. Following the attack, Turkish warplanes have already conducted two airstrikes against suspected Kurdish militant sites in northern Iraq. In addition, dozens of people suspected of links to the PKK have been detained in a series of raids across Turkey. Fidan stated that all facilities belonging to the PKK or its affiliated Kurdish militia group in Syria, known as People’s Defense Units (YPG), are now legitimate targets of Turkish forces.