Visit of Iraq Prime Minister Ali Zeydi to Türkiye (July 2026)

The official visit of Iraq Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zeydi (Ali Zeydi) to the Republic of Türkiye, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took place on 28 July 2026. On that date, Zeydi traveled to Ankara at the head of a high-level government delegation. According to a statement issued by the Presidency of Communications, the visit will comprehensively address bilateral relations in all dimensions, with priority given to security, trade, energy, transportation, and water management, as well as exchange views on regional and global developments.

The visit was first made public on 21 July 2026 by the Office of the Prime Minister of Iraq. The statement indicated that numerous memoranda of understanding would be signed during Zeydi’s upcoming visit to Türkiye to expand bilateral cooperation across various strategic areas.

The confirmed date of the visit was announced on 27 July 2026 via a post on the social media account of Presidency of Communications Director Burhanettin Duran. In the post, Duran stated: “At the invitation of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zeydi will pay an official visit to our country on 28 July 2026. During the visit, bilateral relations will be reviewed in all dimensions, with priority given to security, trade, energy, transportation and water management, and views will be exchanged on regional and global developments.”

According to a statement from the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali Falih al-Zeydi departed in the early hours of Tuesday, 28 July 2026, at the head of a high-level government delegation, bound for the capital Ankara.

Statements from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office indicated that during the visit, mechanisms for implementing bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding will be reviewed, joint infrastructure projects will be monitored and advanced, and these matters will be addressed in a manner that serves the interests of both neighboring countries.

Prior to the visit, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, stated that Zeydi’s visit to Türkiye would focus on three key files: Development Corridor, energy, and water. Salih noted that this focus aligns with the government’s policy of transforming the Iraq-Türkiye partnership into joint economic and development projects. According to Salih, experts assess that the proposal to use Baniyas Port as an alternative for oil exports has redrawn the negotiation cards and strengthened Iraq’s position.

Development Corridor Project: Salih stated that the Development Corridor Project will be at the top of the agenda, representing a transformation in Iraq’s economic philosophy. The project aims to convert Iraq’s geographic position into a major international trade corridor, thereby diversifying revenue sources and reducing dependence on oil income. Salih emphasized that the project is not limited to infrastructure construction but also seeks to build an economy based on logistics services, storage, and industries linked to trade activity. He added that the success of the Iraq-Türkiye corridor will strengthen both countries’ positions in global value chains and provide an attractive environment for investment.

Energy File: Salih indicated that the energy file will be strongly represented during the visit, with discussions planned to restructure cooperation on the Iraq-Türkiye crude oil pipeline toward Ceyhan Port, as well as to expand collaboration in natural gas, electricity connections, and renewable energy.

Water File: Salih stated that water is the third strategic file on the agenda, emphasizing its importance due to its connection to food security and economic stability. According to him, Baghdad aims to enhance cooperation with Ankara in areas such as water storage projects, modernization of irrigation techniques, water reuse, wastewater treatment, and rehabilitation of agricultural land.

Salih noted that the visit takes place within the context of economic transformations reshaping global trade, energy, and supply chain priorities, and that Iraq views its geographic position as an economic asset that can be leveraged to establish strategic partnerships with neighboring countries, primarily Türkiye.^【1】

According to statements by Mazhar Muhammad Salih, financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, economic relations between Iraq and Türkiye have shown continuous growth. Trade volume between the two countries exceeds $20 billion annually; Türkiye’s exports to Iraq reached approximately $13.1 billion in 2024, making Iraq one of Türkiye’s largest foreign markets for Turkish products. Salih also noted that Turkish companies have undertaken infrastructure projects in Iraq valued at over $35 billion, providing these companies with opportunities to participate in Iraq’s planned Development Corridor projects, industrial cities, and economic zones.^【2】

Prior to the visit, on 21 July 2026, Iraqi Prime Minister Zeydireceived in Baghdad Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and his delegation. During the meeting, Zeydi highlighted the deep-rooted relations and shared interests between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of strengthening economic and investment cooperation. He also noted that recent developments regarding the Development Corridor Project, which holds strategic significance for Iraq, Türkiye, and the region, had been reviewed; he issued directives to establish a clear mechanism for financing and implementation and called for concrete steps to be taken within the agreed timeline.

According to the statement, Minister Uraloğlu affirmed Türkiye’s strong commitment to the Development Corridor Project and its support for its implementation, noting that both countries share the view that essential infrastructure works must begin as soon as possible.

According to Salih, Zeydi’s visit is a continuation of the process initiated following the visit of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Baghdad in April 2024. That visit resulted in the signing of 26 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering strategic framework cooperation as well as sectors including transportation, energy, water, investment, and economic collaboration.^【3】