Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falah Al-Zidi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York to discuss bilateral relations and a range of security and economic issues, according to an official statement released by the Iraqi government.
A joint Iraqi-Turkish statement said the two sides reached an Iraq-Turkey agreement in New York on restoring full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and gradually handing over Bashiqa-Zlikan Camp to Iraqi federal forces under an agreed mechanism and timetable.
Agreement to Restore State Authority in Sinjar
The statement said both sides expressed a shared will on a number of issues during the meeting held in New York on September 23, 2026, adding that the talks focused on deepening security cooperation between Baghdad and Ankara.
It said the two sides agreed to restore full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of prohibited armed foreign elements, in a move aimed at strengthening federal government control over the area.
Bashiqa-Zlikan Camp to Be Transferred to Federal Authorities
According to the statement, Turkish forces will gradually hand over Bashiqa-Zlikan Camp to the Iraqi federal government, following the agreed mechanism and timetable.
The development is part of a broader set of security understandings between Baghdad and Ankara, as Iraq seeks to reinforce its security presence in sensitive areas and reshape its relationship with Turkey on border and security matters.
Broader Economic Cooperation and Joint Projects
The statement also said the two sides agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment, implement signed agreements immediately, and accelerate joint strategic projects.
The Development Road project was highlighted as one of the main priorities discussed in the meeting, as Baghdad continues to promote it as a key economic corridor linking Iraq to regional and international trade routes.
Iraqi-Turkish Relations Moving Toward Deeper Coordination
The agreement reflects a shared effort to link security coordination with economic cooperation, with particular attention to sensitive domestic issues such as Sinjar and Bashiqa.
By including trade, investment, and the Development Road in the statement, both sides appear to be aiming to turn political understandings into practical steps on the ground, with possible effects on stability and regional cooperation.
Conclusion:
The meeting between Al-Zidi and Erdogan in New York was more than a ceremonial encounter. It produced important security, political, and economic understandings, especially on Sinjar, Zlikan Camp, and the Development Road. Baghdad and Ankara now appear to be moving toward deeper coordination through gradual and direct arrangements.
