Iraq, Turkey set to end standoff over military base with new pact
The deal, hailed by both sides as historic, includes an agreement to turn a Turkish military base in the Iraqi town of Bashiqa over to the Iraqi government.
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ANKARA — Turkey and Iraq signed a military cooperation accord this week that stands to end one of the key points of contention between Ankara and Baghdad, namely, a Turkish military base in the northern Iraqi town of Bashiqa.
Called “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 the Turkish and Iraqi foreign and defense ministers, as well as intelligence chiefs, in Ankara.
The deal includes the agreement to turn the Turkish military base in Bashiqa over to the Iraqi government as well as to build a joint military coordination center for Ankara and Baghdad to be based in Iraq.
