Iraq's prime minister to visit Turkey to discuss security and water supply

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani is due to travel to Turkey to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties, with an emphasis on security and fair water distribution from Turkey's Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

According to a prime minister's aide, Mr. Al Sudani will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials.

His major priorities are the availability of water and the presence of the PKK, a dissident organization affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party.

According to the UN, Iraq is the fifth-most climate change-vulnerable nation.

Turkish dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers constructed during the past 50 years have exacerbated the country's climate change problems.

Iran has also constructed dams on rivers that feed the Tigris.

According to Deputy Environment Minister Jassim Al Falahi, Turkey and Iran are currently only providing less than 30% of the rivers' typical flow, which accounts for more than 90% of the freshwater in Iraq.

Turkey maintains long-standing military outposts in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq and has conducted military operations against the PKK, which the US and EU both consider to be terrorist organizations.

The Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran, or KDPI, is based in Kurdistan as well, alongside the PKK. Turkey and Iran have been attacking them over the border virtually every day in recent months.

The groups are accused by Iran and Turkey of trying to undermine their security and sow discontent by conducting armed strikes from Iraqi territory.

Al Sudani stated that the talks would cover "managing the borders and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey, notably in intelligence sharing." These comments were reported by the Iraqi National News agency.