Iraqi Prime Minister Ali ez-Zeydi, in an article penned ahead of his visit to Türkiye, said Iraq and Türkiye are at a historic turning point that will turn their geographic positions into an economic opportunity.
Zeydi stressed that his country has now entered a path of stability, reform and development, saying: "The Iraq I departed from to come to Ankara today is not the old Iraq the region knew just a few years ago."
The prime minister noted that Iraq has redefined its national priorities around building a strong economy and an effective state structure, and placed regional cooperation at the center of sustainable growth with a balanced foreign policy vision.
Pointing to Türkiye's advanced industrial capacity, strategic location and experience in infrastructure, energy and transportation, Zeydi said the common potential of the two countries laid the foundation for one of the region's most important economic partnerships.
Stressing that Iraq and Türkiye can serve as a vital bridge connecting the Gulf, Asia and Europe at a time when global trade and supply chains are being restructured, Zeydi highlighted the strategic importance of the Development Road Project.
Stating that they see the project not just as an Iraqi initiative but as a regional step with the potential to redefine economic ties across the Middle East, Zeydi said it "will create new cities, industrial zones, massive investment opportunities and thousands of jobs."
The Iraqi prime minister emphasized that no strategic partnership can take root without security and stability, and noted that the security of the two countries can only be achieved through mutual respect for sovereignty and a joint will against terrorism and organized crime.
With water becoming a strategic development imperative, Zeydi said they aim to establish a joint will that prioritizes scientific cooperation and investment in modern technologies to ensure water and food security for both peoples.
The Middle East needs new success stories, Zeydi said, adding that if Iraq and Türkiye move beyond traditional cooperation boundaries and meet on a vision of true integration, they can write one of the region's most inspiring chapters.
Believing that lasting stability is built around common projects rather than conflicts, Zeydi said: "Every success we achieve in building this model will bring us one step closer to a more stable, far more prosperous and fully future-ready Middle East."
