Doha: Iraqi Minister of Defense, Thabet Muhammad Saeed Al Abbasi, met on Sunday with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is currently visiting Iraq, to discuss border security between the two countries. The meeting focused on strengthening military and security cooperation to ensure stability in the region.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense issued a statement outlining the discussions. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and explored ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as border control, counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, training, and capacity building. These efforts aim to bolster the security and stability of the border areas while serving the mutual interests of both countries.

Al Abbasi highlighted Iraq's dedication to advancing defense and security collaboration with Turkiye, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and good neighborliness. This commitment includes ensuring that Iraqi territory is not used in a manner that could harm any neighboring country.

In response, the Turkish Foreign Minister expressed Turkiye's interest in opening new avenues for defense, technical, and military training cooperation with Iraqi institutions. The discussions underscored a mutual aspiration for a new phase of joint strategic defense cooperation, rooted in mutual trust and shared interests, to enhance the security and stability of the region.