New York/Baghdad, September 24, 2026: Türkiye and Iraq have reached an agreement for the gradual transfer of Türkiye's military base at Bashiqa in northern Iraq to the Iraqi federal government, marking a significant development in security relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The agreement was announced following a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to statements issued by the two governments, the discussions covered security cooperation, bilateral trade, investment and major infrastructure projects.
Under the agreement, Turkish forces will gradually hand over the Bashiqa-Zilkan base to Iraq according to an agreed mechanism and timetable. Türkiye's government said the transfer would take place in connection with progress on security measures, including efforts to restore Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and address the presence of foreign armed groups in the area.
The Bashiqa base has been a sensitive issue in relations between Ankara and Baghdad for years. Türkiye established the military facility near Mosul in 2015, during the campaign against the Islamic State group. Turkish personnel stationed there were involved in training local forces, according to historical accounts of the deployment. Baghdad subsequently objected to the Turkish military presence, arguing that it had been established without sufficient authorization from the central Iraqi government.
The latest agreement provides a framework for changing that arrangement while maintaining security cooperation between the two countries.
A major part of the understanding concerns Sinjar, a strategically important area in northern Iraq. The Iraqi government said the two sides agreed to work toward strengthening state authority in the region and ending the presence of what it described as illegal foreign armed elements. The statement was understood to refer to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has maintained a presence in parts of northern Iraq.
The announcement also includes an economic component. Türkiye and Iraq agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment and accelerate the implementation of existing agreements. Particular attention was given to the Development Road Project, a major planned transportation and infrastructure corridor intended to connect Iraq's Gulf region with Türkiye and onward markets.
The Development Road project has been presented by Baghdad and Ankara as an important long-term economic initiative. Greater cooperation on infrastructure, transport and trade could increase the strategic importance of the relationship between the two countries.
The agreement comes as regional security remains a major issue at the United Nations General Assembly. Middle Eastern conflicts, border security and the role of armed groups are among the subjects receiving international attention during the current diplomatic gathering.
The Bashiqa handover will now depend on the implementation of the agreed timetable and security arrangements. The two governments have indicated that the process will be gradual rather than an immediate withdrawal.
The development therefore represents both a security adjustment and a broader attempt to deepen relations between Türkiye and Iraq. Further details about the timetable, the future status of the base and the practical arrangements for transferring control are expected as the two governments implement the agreement.
