Description: Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, conducted an official state visit to Baghdad, where he met with Iraq’s Oil Minister, Basim Mohammed and Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi. Bayraktar stated that Turkey and Iraq’s long standing oil pipeline agreement would be extended by a year while the two countries would also explore options for further trade engagement in sectors such as agriculture, natural gas and livestock. Bayraktar stated that Turkey and Iraq would continue enhancing bilateral cooperation and raise the profile of the Development Road Project, which is a EU – Iraq megaproject aimed at establishing the latter as a major trade and energy gateway between Europe and Asia. The oil pipeline agreement was interrupted by two and a half years after Turkey was charged with illegally siphoning Iraqi oil between 2014 and 2018 and was obliged to pay Iraq $1.5 million in damages.
Impact: The extension of the oil pipeline agreement is highly likely a background for Turkey’s expanding influence in the region and is set to further position Ankara as a major power broker and soft – power player in the mid to long – term period in the region. Iraq’s consent to engage in a high – level partnership with Turkey is likely due to the country’s need to diversify its energy exports away from key supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, following the war between the US, Israel and Iran. Bayraktar’s meetings with Iraq’s Prime Minister likely emphasizes the close political and diplomatic relation between the two countries and strengthens Turkey’s influence in forwarding the Development Road Plan with its European partners. This in turn is likely to raise Iraq’s energy profile in a period where Europe is attempting to diversify and independently decouple from Russian supply.