Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met with Ibrahim Kalın, head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), on Tuesday to discuss strengthening security cooperation and intelligence sharing between the two nations.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Kalın conveyed a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties and enhancing collaboration for mutual security and regional stability.

The talks centered on border security and joint intelligence coordination mechanisms, with both sides emphasizing the need to address cross-border threats and bolster stability along their shared frontier. The meeting underscores ongoing efforts by Iraq and Turkey to tackle security challenges amid regional tensions.

Turkey has repeatedly conducted military operations in northern Iraq targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group Ankara designates as a terrorist organization. The presence of PKK militants in Iraq’s mountainous border regions has long been a point of contention between Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, and Ankara.

Recent efforts to revive peace talks in Turkey have included calls for expanded security cooperation to prevent further escalation and protect border communities. Strengthening intelligence sharing is viewed as a critical step toward more effective counterterrorism measures and fostering long-term regional stability.