Turkiye agrees to gradual handover of Bashiqa base to Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to deepen security cooperation between their two countries during meetings held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

A central element of the agreement is the commitment to a gradual handover of the Bashiqa base to Iraqi control. The pledge was made as part of broader discussions on strengthening bilateral ties in the security sphere.

The meeting took place in the context of high-level diplomacy, as world leaders gathered at the UN to address bilateral and multilateral issues. The joint statement from the two leaders signals a willingness to continue and expand dialogue on security matters, including questions related to military presence in the region.

No detailed timeline or specific handover process has been made public so far, but both sides have confirmed their intent to move toward a gradual resolution. The step is seen as part of wider efforts to strengthen Turkish-Iraqi bilateral relations in the security domain.

The announcement comes as countries in the region continue to seek ways to coordinate on security issues and military cooperation. The meeting between the two countries' top officials at the UN General Assembly is regarded as a significant step toward closer bilateral coordination going forward.