Iraq, Turkey set to end standoff over military base with new pact

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ANKARA — Turkey and Iraq signed a military cooperation accord this week, which stands to end one of the key points of contention between Ankara and Baghdad, namely a Turkish military base in northern Iraqi town of Bashiqa.

Branded as “historic” by both sides, the memorandum of understanding on military, security and counterterrorism cooperation was signed on Thursday after two days of high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi foreign defense ministers, as well as intelligence chiefs, in Ankara.  

The deal includes an agreement to turn a Turkish military base in the Iraqi town of Bashiqa over to the Iraqi government as well as to build a joint military coordination center between Ankara and Baghdad to be based in Iraq.