Turkiye agrees to gradual handover of Bashiqa base to Iraq | United Nations News
Iraq and Turkey Agree on Military Base Transfer and Strengthened Cooperation
Published: September 24, 2026
NEW YORK — Iraq and Turkey have reached an agreement to gradually transfer control of the Turkish military base in Bashiqa to the Iraqi government, according to a statement from the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. This development was announced following a meeting between al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
The joint statement indicated that the leaders agreed to enhance state authority in the Sinjar region, aiming to eliminate the presence of foreign armed groups, which appears to reference the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK has been active in the mountainous area of northern Iraq.
In addition to military cooperation, both countries expressed their intent to increase bilateral trade and investment. They committed to the immediate implementation of existing agreements and to expedite joint strategic initiatives, particularly the Development Road project.
The decision to transfer the Bashiqa base addresses a sensitive issue in the Turkey-Iraq relationship. Turkey established the facility northeast of Mosul in December 2015, under an agreement with Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government, with the goal of training local forces against the Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS). The presence of up to 600 Turkish soldiers has been a point of contention for the Iraqi government, which has viewed it as a violation of its sovereignty.
The Sinjar region has been a key focus of Turkish military operations aimed at PKK fighters. Due to a peace process between Ankara and the PKK in 2025, cross-border operations in Sinjar had diminished, allowing Iraqi federal authorities to reassert control over the area.
The recent agreement represents a significant step in Baghdad’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its authority in northern Iraq while fostering cooperation with Turkey on security and trade matters along their shared border.
