Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is visiting Ankara today where he will meet Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including joint steps against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in the wake of its "illegal" independence referendum last month.
Sources in the Turkish Prime Ministry said that the premiers will likely discuss ways of enhancing cooperation so as to contribute to regional peace, stability, and safety.
Following the KRG independence referendum on Sept. 25, Ankara has vowed to stand alongside Baghdad, taking joint steps like closing their borders and airspace.
The two prime ministers will also reportedly discuss additional steps against the KRG administration which will eliminate Irbil from oil trade.
The status of Turkey's Bashiqa military camp in Iraq will be discussed as well. Turkish officials recently indicated that the status of Turkish troops providing training to local forces at the camp will be reassessed with Iraqi officials, once the area was cleared off Daesh presence. Henceforth, the Iraqi and Turkish delegations were expected to discuss the issue and find a solution in a friendly manner.
Meanwhile, bilateral cooperation to tackle terrorist groups like the PKK, Daesh and Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) will also be discussed during the Iraqi prime minister's visit to Ankara.
The Iraqi-Turkish relations were strained last year over the presence of Turkish security forces at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul. The ties returned back on track following Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's visit to Baghdad earlier this year.
