introduction
Iraqi-Turkish cooperation , Recently and during the visit
of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraq.
A large cooperative agreement has been concluded between the countries of Iraq and Turkey,
and there is no doubt that this agreement will enhance the economic situation of the two countries.
This agreement was largely focused on strengthening
the relationship between the two countries
in terms of tourism and the economic aspect in general.
The agreement was centered around 26 joint agreements between the two countries for a period of 10 years
Agreements
According to what was stated by officials from both sides,
more than 20 memorandums
of understanding have been signed,
aiming to increase the strength of relations between the two countries.
1- The strategic framework agreement between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey.
2-A memorandum of framework agreement for cooperation in the field of water between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey.
3- Memorandum of Understanding for the Development Road Project, between the Ministry of Transport and the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
4-A memorandum of understanding to form a joint economic trade committee (JETCO) between the Iraqi and Turkish ministries of commerce.
5- An agreement to encourage, protect and exchange investments between the National Investment Authority and the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology.
6- A memorandum of understanding between the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council.
7- A memorandum of understanding for technical, scientific and economic cooperation in the field of small and medium enterprises, between the Ministry of Industry and the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology.
8- A memorandum of understanding in the field of military training, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Defense.
9- A memorandum of understanding on training and cooperation in the field of military health, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Defense.
10- A memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation between the Military Industrialization Authority and the Turkish Defense Industries Secretariat.
11- A memorandum of understanding for security cooperation between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Interior.
12- A memorandum of understanding between the Foreign Service Institute and the Turkish Strategic Studies Institute, and between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
13- A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of youth and sports, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Youth and Sports.
14- A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of health and medical sciences, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Health.
15- The Agricultural Working Group Plan for the period 2024-2025, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Agriculture.
16- Memorandum of understanding on scientific and technological research, between the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council.
17- A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the educational field, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Education.
18- A memorandum of understanding in the field of tourism cooperation, between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.
19- A memorandum of understanding in the field of employment and social security, between the Iraqi and Turkish Ministries of Labor and Social Affairs.
20- A memorandum of understanding in the field of social and family affairs, between the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Turkish Ministry of Family and Services.
21- Memorandum of understanding regarding government documents and archives, between the Ministry of Culture and the Turkish Government Archives.
22- A memorandum of understanding in the field of product security and technical barriers to trade, between the Ministry of Planning and the Turkish Ministry of Trade.
23- A memorandum of understanding in religious affairs between the Sunni Endowment Office and the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs.
24- A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of judicial training for students, judges, assistants and prosecutors, between the Iraqi Judicial Institute and the Turkish Justice Academy.
25- Memorandum of understanding in the field of electricity, between the Ministry of Electricity and the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
26- A memorandum of understanding in the field of media and communications between the Media and Communications Authority and the Turkish Communications Presidency.
Water agreement
In an important development, the Iraqi Prime Minister officially announced the signing of a comprehensive 10-year
agreement with Turkey on water resources management.
This historic agreement aims to ensure that Iraq receives its fair share
of water resources, and is a crucial step in meeting the country’s urgent water needs.
Furthermore, Baghdad is actively continuing
efforts to secure greater allocation
of water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
These rivers, which originate in Turkey,
constitute the main sources of fresh water in Iraq,
a country grappling with the severe challenges of water scarcity and drought.
Through its statement, the Iraqi presidency stressed the need to effectively
address the water crisis and ensure Iraq’s fair share of water resources to meet its growing needs.
The agreement stresses, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency,
the importance of enhancing mutual understanding in the water sector.
Furthermore, the agreement includes provisions
for the development of critical infrastructure and investment projects
aimed at improving the management of water resources in Iraq. It also
sets out
a forward-looking vision aimed
at ensuring the equitable allocation of transboundary water resources.
The agreement is scheduled to be implemented over a period of 10 years,
with automatic renewal for an additional year after mutual approval between the parties,
confirming the long-term commitment
of both Iraq and Turkey
to sustainable water management.
Economic cooperation
In addition, both countries are poised
to cooperate on major economic endeavors,
demonstrating a broader strategic partnership that goes beyond water resource management.
Regional development path
It is noteworthy that the Iraqi Prime Minister and the Turkish President witnessed the signing
of a four-way memorandum of understanding between Iraq,
Turkey, Qatar and the UAE to cooperate in the “Development Road Project.”
This ambitious project, which Iraq
launched last year with an investment of $17 billion,
aims to make the country a major center for transit trade between Asia and Europe by linking
the Al-Faw port in southern Iraq with Turkey in the north, and benefiting from Iraq’s oil wealth in the southern region.
Comprehensive agreements
the two sides also signed a memorandum
of understanding for the Development Road Project,
which aims to enhance logistics infrastructure and facilitate trade and economic development in the region.
The National Investment Authority of Iraq and the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology
also signed an agreement to promote
, protect and exchange investments,
with the aim of enhancing economic activities and attracting investments in the public and private sectors.
In the context of supporting economic cooperation, a memorandum of understanding was signed between
the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council to form
a joint economic trade committee (JETCO) between the Iraqi and Turkish ministries of commerce,
with the aim of enhancing trade exchange, encouraging joint investments, and strengthening trade relations between the two countries.
These agreements reflect the commitment of Iraq and Turkey to enhancing bilateral cooperation in multiple fields,
and achieving sustainable development and economic progress for the two countries.
It is expected that these agreements will contribute
to enhancing trade exchange between the two countries and enhancing economic stability in the region.
With regard to security and defense cooperation, a memorandum of understanding
for strategic cooperation was signed between the Iraqi Military Industrialization Organization
and the Turkish Defense Industries Secretariat, with the aim of enhancing cooperation
in the field of the defense industry and enhancing regional security. Memorandums of understanding
were also signed
in the areas of diplomatic,
agricultural, sports, health, scientific, educational, tourism, cultural, artistic, judicial training, and commercial cooperation in the electricity, energy, and communications sectors.
