A joint coordination center for security issues of Turkey and Iraq is to be established in Baghdad. This was reported by the Sabah newspaper, citing a memorandum on cooperation in the military, security and counter-terrorism areas signed by the defense ministries of the two countries.

The signing of the document was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following a high-level security meeting in Ankara with the participation of the heads of the foreign ministries, defense ministries and intelligence services of Turkey and Iraq. The minister did not provide details of the document.

As Sabah notes, according to the signed document, which lays the legal basis for cooperation between the two countries in counter-terrorism matters, the joint center will operate on the basis of the central operational headquarters of the Iraqi Armed Forces, but the military personnel included in it will be subordinate to their command. The center will exchange intelligence, conduct military planning and coordinate the actions of the two countries to counter terrorism.

The memorandum also envisages transforming a Turkish military base in the Iraqi city of Bashiqa that was causing disagreements between the parties into a joint training and cooperation center. This will allow the Turkish military to train Iraqi troops and jointly counter PKK and Islamic State terrorist groups.