Fidan meets KRG deputy PM in Ankara for talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met on Friday with Qubad Talabani, the deputy prime minister of Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), in the Turkish capital Ankara. The meeting follows recent high-level engagements, including a visit by MİT chief İbrahim Kalın to Sulaymaniyah on July 1, where he met with PUK leader Bafel Talabani and Qubad Talabani.

Talks on peace process

Talabani later posted on social media that he was encouraged by Türkiye's strong commitment to the peace process between Ankara and the PKK. He stated that he and PUK Politburo member Derbaz Rasool reaffirmed the PUK's full support to work with all sides to ensure the process succeeds. The meeting also addressed changing regional dynamics and steps to overcome obstacles to forming the new Iraqi and KRG governments.

Diplomatic context

The Fidan-Talabani talks come amid a broader effort to ease tensions between Ankara and the Sulaymaniyah-based PUK, which had strained relations over the past three years . Following these meetings, Bafel Talabani is also expected to visit Ankara. No further details about the discussions were provided by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The talks underscore Türkiye's ongoing engagement with Iraqi Kurdish leaders amid regional security and political developments.