In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations about the recent agreement between Turkey and Iraq for military cooperation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Ali Heidari said: In a high-level security meeting in Ankara between the foreign and defense ministers of Iraq and Turkey an agreement was reached based on which it was decided to establish two joint coordination and training centers to combat terrorist threats in Baghdad and in the Turkish military base in northern Iraq near Mosul. This high-level security meeting results from agreements reached during Erdogan’s visit to Iraq in May. : During this trip, issues such as the fight against PKK, water, and the development of road projects were discussed. Turkey urgently needs the help of Baghdad and Erbil on the PKK issue, and in this regard, it pressures them to force the PKK not to take action against Turkey; otherwise, they should cooperate with the PKK in a joint fight. Since Iraq is dependent on Turkey for water and needs Turkey’s investment to implement the development road project, Ankara uses these two tools to pressure Iraq to achieve its security goal on the PKK issue.

This expert on regional issues stated: In the past few years, Turkey has carried out many military operations in northern Iraq, which, of course, has faced protests from Baghdad. Turkey claims that Iraq cannot protect its borders, and this country is forced to carry out these operations repeatedly to protect its borders.

Referring to the agreement between Turkey and Iraq during Saddam Hussein, which allowed the two countries to enter the territory of the other country up to a depth of five kilometers to fight terrorism, he said: Turkey has ignored this agreement in recent years and entered the territory up to a depth of 40 kilometers and even more. s entered the territory of Iraq. This issue has increased the dissatisfaction of Iraqis to the extent that Türke4ye finally came to the negotiating table.

Heidari stated: In recent negotiations, Turkey asked Iraq to take measures to fight the PKK. In this regard, Baghdad declared the PKK an illegal party for the first time, which is considered an important and significant step in line with Turkey’s request. The concessions that Turkey obtained during the recent visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister were very important because both agreements were reached in the PKK debate, and Turkey’s military presence in Iraq was ascertained.

He said: Of course, Turkey also gave concessions to the Iraqi side, including visas for Iraqi nationals over 50 years old and under 15 years old. For many years, Iraq has sought to cancel visas with Turkey, but Turkey did not agree due to security and terrorism issues.

This expert on regional issues stated: The agreement between Turkey and Iraq on the PKK shows that Turkey is moving step by step towards a joint fight with Iraq against the PKK, which is one of the main goals of this country. Ankara’s ultimate goal is to have joint operations with Baghdad and Erbil, but Baghdad has so far refused to do so. Baghdad believes that since the PKK has not operated against the interests of Iraq in this country, it cannot be declared a terrorist group. In addition, the connection of some political currents in Iraq with the PKK prevents PKK from being declared a terrorist group.

Heidari said that Baghdad has received concessions in the water sector, cancellation of visas, and investment in the development road project from Turkey in exchange for confronting the PKK. However, this agreement is unlikely to end in joint operations against the PKK. It seems that the agreement will remain at this stage because its consequences are more significant for Baghdad; of course, Turkey is trying to reach this level of cooperation with Iraq in the joint fight against the PKK and will not stop this effort.

He added: The fact that the PKK has been declared an illegal group and the parties related to it do not have the right to participate in the Iraqi elections and that the Turkish military base in northern Iraq has been recognized as a training base is a great privilege for Turkey.