Iraqi Prime Minister to Visit Turkey for Final Talks on ‘Development Road’ Project

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani is set to visit Turkey in the coming days to finalize discussions on the ambitious Development Road project, senior officials from both countries confirmed.

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that significant progress had been made on two major projects—one involving Iraq and the other linking Turkey to Syria. The Development Road project, first unveiled during Sudani’s visit to Turkey in March 2023, aims to transform Iraq into a key transit hub for trade between the Gulf, Turkey, and Europe.

According to Uraloğlu, Turkey and Iraq have reached an advanced stage in planning the 1,200-kilometer highway and railway network that will connect Turkey to Iraq’s Grand Faw Port. The project is expected to revamp Iraq’s infrastructure and boost regional commerce.

Alongside the Development Road, Ankara has initiated a second project—a railway network extending from Turkey through Syria to Damascus via Aleppo. Uraloğlu confirmed that progress has been made on this corridor, though further details remain scarce.

Diplomatic and Economic Implications

The Iraqi Embassy in Ankara reaffirmed that Sudani’s visit will play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations. Iraq’s Ambassador to Turkey, Majid al-Lajmawi, stated that the upcoming talks will focus on Development Road, as well as energy, transportation, and trade.

“This visit will elevate economic and investment cooperation to new heights,” Lajmawi said, adding that discussions will also touch on regional security concerns and broader economic collaboration.

Beyond infrastructure, Baghdad and Ankara have intensified security coordination in recent years. In August 2024, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on military and counterterrorism cooperation. The agreement, inked by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his Iraqi counterpart Thabet al-Abbasi, formalized joint efforts to neutralize the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the EU, and Türkiye, and enhance border security.

Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Iraq in January, where he underscored Turkey’s commitment to accelerating the Development Road project and removing trade barriers. Bilateral trade between the two nations has already reached $20 billion annually, with both sides seeking to further expand economic ties.

Turkey’s growing economic footprint in Iraq and Syria highlights its ambition to solidify itself as a regional power broker. However, the expansion of Turkish influence comes at a time of shifting alliances and unresolved tensions.

As Sudani’s visit approaches, the Development Road project stands as a symbol of Iraq’s ambition to reclaim its role as a key regional transit hub. Yet, its success will depend not only on Baghdad’s ability to balance competing interests but also on how Iraq navigates the broader geopolitical complexities of a rapidly evolving Middle East.

(Source:Kurdistan24)