Erdogan, Sudani discuss relations over phone

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Tuesday held a phone call, discussing bilateral relations, amid tensions over Turkey’s military attacks on Iraqi soil targeting Kurdish militants.

Erdogan told Sudani that the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq “should be ended,” according to a statement released by Turkish president’s office.

“This is also a requirement of Iraq's national security interests,” Erdogan said.

Cumhurbaşkanı @RTErdogan, Irak Başbakanı Muhammed Şiya Sudani ile bir telefon görüşmesi gerçekleştirdi. pic.twitter.com/bGg2R0JyFe

— T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@tcbestepe) January 10, 2023

Turkey that regularly conducts military operations into Northern Iraq to combat the PKK, most recently in November has launched an aerial campaign into the region targeting the outlawed groups’ bases, where Iraqi government opposes as it sees as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to a statement from the Iraqi premier's office, the two leaders discussed “ways to develop economic cooperation, mutual efforts to control common borders, and coordination to pursue terrorist groups,” Rudaw said. Sudani’s office did not mention any specific groups, it said.

At the end of December, Erdogan has officially invited Sudani to visit Ankara and the Iraqi Prime minister promised to accept it as soon as possible.