Turkey has agreed to gradually withdraw its forces from the Bashiqa-Zelikan military base in northern Iraq and transfer control of the facility to the Iraqi government, marking a significant development in security relations between the two neighboring countries.
The agreement was announced after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two governments issued a joint statement outlining the planned withdrawal and broader security cooperation.
Under the agreement, Turkish forces will gradually hand over the Bashiqa-Zelikan camp to Iraq according to an agreed mechanism and timeline. The base, located northeast of Mosul, has been a longstanding point of disagreement between Ankara and Baghdad.
Turkey established its military presence at Bashiqa in 2015, initially to support the fight against Islamic State militants and train local forces. The deployment, which at one point involved hundreds of Turkish troops, drew objections from Baghdad, which regarded the Turkish military presence as a challenge to Iraqi sovereignty.
The agreement also includes security commitments from Iraq. Baghdad pledged to strengthen state authority in Sinjar, in northwestern Iraq, and work to end the presence of foreign armed groups that Turkey considers security threats, including elements linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The Sinjar issue has been closely connected to Turkey’s military operations in northern Iraq, where Ankara has targeted PKK fighters and maintained several military positions.
The new arrangement comes as Iraq works to consolidate government authority over areas affected by armed groups while Turkey pursues a broader peace process with the PKK. The group has agreed to disband and lay down its arms as part of those efforts.
Beyond security, Turkey and Iraq also agreed to deepen bilateral trade and investment and accelerate strategic projects, including the proposed Development Road project, which is intended to strengthen transport and trade links between Iraq and international markets.
The planned handover could therefore mark a new phase in Ankara-Baghdad relations, combining a gradual reduction of Turkey’s military footprint with increased cooperation on security, trade and regional infrastructure.
Swifteradio.com
