Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani has arrived in Ankara, where he is holding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Context: The visit is centered around co-chairing the Iraq–Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, a key platform for bilateral coordination on political, economic, and security issues.

Analysis: Al-Sudani’s visit takes place against the backdrop of ongoing peace negotiations with the PKK, even as Turkey maintains over 100 military bases and outposts within Iraqi territory. These military installations are unlikely to be dismantled, even if—as expected—the PKK holds a congress in the coming days to formally announce its dissolution and disarmament. Given the complex topography and strategic importance of northern Iraq, Turkey appears poised to retain its military footprint there for the foreseeable future.

The visit also comes amid a deadlock over KRG oil exports—a file in which Turkey has a major stake, as the export pipeline runs through its territory. The halt, which began in 2023, was triggered by an Iraqi legal complaint against Turkey—not the KRG—for allowing oil exports without Baghdad’s approval.

Another major topic on the agenda is the Development Road project, a flagship Iraqi infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting the Persian Gulf to Europe via Turkey. Notably, the project largely bypasses the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had requested a rerouting through Duhok, but this was rejected. Baghdad is heavily invested in the project’s success, viewing it as a potential game-changer for Iraq’s economic recovery and regional integration.

Also likely to be discussed is Turkey’s push for Iraq to repatriate its nationals from the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria. Roughly half of the camp’s population are Iraqi citizens. Turkey regards the camp—which remains under the control of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—as a critical geopolitical lever and a security threat. Ankara is increasingly active in addressing the broader ISIS detainee issue, and in a recent joint Iraqi-Turkish security meeting, discussions included Turkish assistance in repatriating Iraqis from al-Hol and advancing a regional joint operations room to combat ISIS. This aligns with Turkey’s ongoing effort to present itself to Washington as a capable partner in managing the ISIS threat—a justification that underpins continued U.S. presence in Syria and support for the SDF.

Adding another layer of complexity, some pro-Iranian Shia factions in Iraq have launched a media campaign accusing Turkey of establishing proxy militias in Mosul and Kirkuk. These groups allege that Ankara is preparing to assert influence—or even territorial control—over northern Iraq in the event of a post-Assad regional vacuum.