At a Glance

• Iraqi President Nizar Amedi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya.

• Amedi called for stronger coordination to protect Iraq’s water rights and meet its development needs.

• Both leaders reviewed joint opportunities in energy, transportation, and infrastructure.

• Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to expanding bilateral ties and tackling shared regional challenges.

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of the COP31 United Nations Climate Conference in Antalya to discuss the future of Iraq-Turkey relations, water security, and efforts to address regional challenges.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• The Iraqi Presidency reported that President Amedi argued regional challenges require nations to “move beyond managing successive crises and address their root causes through serious, responsible dialogue.”

• President Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to strengthening ties with Baghdad and underscored the need for “continued coordination and joint efforts to address outstanding challenges in a way that advances the interests of both countries.”

Attended by Iraqi Water Resources Minister Muthana al-Tamimi, Environment Minister Sarwa Abdul Wahid, and MP Youssef al-Kilabi, the talks featured Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

Opening the meeting, Amedi congratulated Erdogan on hosting COP31, commending Turkey’s organization of the summit and the "warm hospitality extended to its participants."

Economic and infrastructure links topped the bilateral agenda, with both delegations reviewing potential joint projects across energy, transportation, and infrastructure.

Water security also featured prominently during the discussions, as Amedi pressed for "intensified coordination to develop sustainable solutions" that safeguard Iraq’s water rights while supporting its development goals.

He emphasized that sustained engagement remains essential to resolving outstanding bilateral issues and advancing the shared interests of both neighbors.

Turning to broader regional dynamics, the two leaders exchanged views on containing escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Amedi warned that shared regional interests must take precedence over political differences, adding that disputes "should not be allowed to jeopardize the security and future of the region's peoples."

Erdogan echoed the call for deeper partnership, reiterating Ankara's readiness to expand cooperation across sectors of mutual interest.

FYI

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) is running in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026, gathering world leaders to negotiate global emissions targets, clean energy transitions, and climate adaptation finance. 

For Iraq, ranked among the nations most vulnerable to drought and desertification, the summit serves as a critical platform to secure international funding and upstream water agreements.

Bilateral relations between Baghdad and Ankara have long centered on trade, cross-border security, and the management of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. 

Because roughly 90 percent of Iraq’s surface water originates in Turkey, upstream dam projects have historically caused friction, though both nations activated a landmark water cooperation framework in September 2026 linking water releases to joint infrastructure investments.

The Antalya meeting also comes amid a major breakthrough in bilateral security ties. Earlier this month, Turkey began a phased withdrawal of its troops from the Bashiqa-Zilkan military base under a September agreement with Baghdad, with the full handover of the facility to Iraqi security forces scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

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