Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Tuesday. The visit, which marks Al-Zaidi's first official trip to Türkiye since assuming office in May, was held following an invitation from President Erdogan.
A high-level Turkish delegation attended the ceremony, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, and the president’s chief foreign policy and security adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic.
In a statement posted on X, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi emphasized the deep ties between the two nations, noting that history, geography, culture, and shared interests unite Iraq and Türkiye. He stated that the primary objective of his visit is to further develop political and economic relations between the countries.
During the meetings, the two leaders are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation across several key sectors, including investment, water resources, and major infrastructure projects. A central topic of discussion is the Development Road transport project, alongside efforts to bolster regional stability. Al-Zaidi noted that the talks aim to launch various economic and security dossiers, intending to achieve mutual benefits for both nations.
