Iraqi Prime Minister starts first official visit to Turkey

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Ankara on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, for his first official visit to Turkey since taking office in May. The visit, conducted at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, concluded with the signing of several bilateral agreements and a joint press conference, marking a significant step in efforts to deepen strategic ties between the neighboring nations.

The leaders held talks focused on strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors, including security, trade, energy, transportation, and water management. A central topic was advancing the Development Road project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to link Iraq's Grand Faw Port to the Turkish border through a 1,200-kilometer integrated highway and railway network, creating a strategic trade corridor between Asia and Europe.

The visit occurs against a backdrop of complex regional challenges and follows al-Zaidi's recent diplomatic trips to the United States and Iran, reflecting Baghdad's policy of balancing relations with major partners. A pressing economic issue discussed was the status of the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline. A previous export agreement expired on...