Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkish Petroleum has secured a partnership in Iraq's Kirkuk production field, marking what he described as "a historic step" in the realm of bilateral energy cooperation.
According to TRTworld.com, President Erdogan detailed the agreement during a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Ankara. He emphasized the significance of the partnership in the energy sector, noting the strategic importance of the Kirkuk production field to both nations.
During the conference, Erdogan and al-Zaidi also exchanged perspectives on regional developments, touching upon issues related to Iran, Syria, and Palestine. Erdogan reiterated Trkiye's readiness to supply Iraq with necessary defense industry products, underscoring the importance of regional peace and stability.
Erdogan stressed Trkiye's commitment to viewing Iraq's peace and stability as intertwined with its own, given Iraq's history of war and instability. He highlighted the Development Road Project, designed to link the Gulf to global markets through Iraq, as increasingly vital in the current regional context.
On security matters, Erdogan affirmed that Trkiye maintains a close dialogue with Iraq to further its "terror-free Trkiye" initiative and to promote a vision of a "terror-free region."