Turkey and Iraq agree Turkey will turn over military camp in northern Iraq

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Turkey and Iraq agree Turkey will turn over military camp in northern Iraq

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Turkey and Iraq have finalized a formal agreement for the Turkish military to gradually transfer control of the Baashiqa military camp in northern Iraq to the Iraqi federal government. The pact was concluded during a closed-door meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Alongside the installation handover, both governments committed to extending federal authority into the Sinjar region and removing banned armed groups. The bilateral talks also emphasized accelerating the Development Road infrastructure project and expanding regional trade ties. The phased handover mechanism reflects incremental security progress achieved by Iraqi forces. Officials indicated that the cooperative security framework aims to address long-standing sovereignty concerns while boosting economic integration across the Middle East.

Published 2026-09-23 21:30:35 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Ayesha A. · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

On January 10 2015 Turkish military forces established the Baashiqa base near Mosul.
On December 4 2015 Iraq demanded the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops from camp.
On October 15 2018 Bilateral discussions regarding base sovereignty stalled amid regional security disputes.
On May 20 2022 Security coordination committees met in Ankara to review border security measures.
On April 22 2024 Leaders signed a strategic framework agreement on energy and transport projects.
On September 10 2025 Joint counterterrorism patrols commenced along northern border security zones.
On September 22 2026 President Erdogan and Prime Minister al-Zaidi met in New York.
On September 23 2026 Both governments formally announced the phased Baashiqa camp transfer agreement.
On September 24 2026 Iraqi federal authorities began drafting the operational timeline for base handover.
On October 1 2026 Technical committees will schedule the initial phase of military transition.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: Implications for US regional security policy remain closely monitored. Possible long-term US impact: Long-term strategic stability in northern Iraq could improve. Most affected groups: Foreign policy analysts, regional defense contractors, and diplomatic observers. Reader priority: Cross-reference official government press releases with wire service reporting.

Coverage notes

Left: Framing emphasizes Iraqi sovereignty recovery and reduction of foreign military footprint. Center: Framing highlights mutual diplomatic compromise balancing regional security and economic integration. Right: Framing focuses on successful counterterrorism cooperation against banned armed groups.