Why Iraq's president can expect warm welcome in Turkey - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Amberin Zaman

Amberin Zaman

Jan 2, 2019

Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected President greets Iraq's outgoing President Fuad Masum (not pictured) at the end of a handover ceremony at Salam Palace in Baghdad, Iraq October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RC1C2A8CDD30 — Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, greets Iraq's outgoing President Fuad Massoum (not pictured) at the end of a handover ceremony at Salam Palace in Baghdad, Iraq Oct. 3, 2018. — REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Iraq’s new president, Barham Salih, is due to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara tomorrow on his first formal visit to Turkey since being elected to the post in October.

Salih’s meeting comes at a critical moment as Turkey seeks to influence the timing and logistics of a declared withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria, escalates its military pressure on Kurdish militants in Iraq and grapples with the fallout from US sanctions on neighboring Iran.

A picture taken on March 20, 2018 shows an Airbus plane on the tarmac at the airport in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah, three months after the lifting of a ban on international flights.
Iraqi authorities had announced on March 13 the lifting of a nearly six-month air blockade imposed on Iraqi Kurdistan in response to its holding of an independence referendum. / AFP PHOTO / SHWAN MOHAMMED (Photo credit should read SHWAN MOHAMMED/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkey extends flight ban to Sulaimaniyah

Amberin Zaman

Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attends a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC1DBE1F34C0

Turkish FM heads for Iraq to greet new leadership, discuss oil

Amberin Zaman

Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

New Kurdish Prime Minister Bahram Salih takes an oath after his election by parliament to take office, in Abril, 310 km (190 miles north of Baghdad October 28, 2009. After Kurdish parliamentary elections in July that kept the region's two major parties in power, Kurdish lawmakers have picked Iraq's former deputy prime minister, Barham Salih, to head the new government. Analysts say the move may bring a more cordial tone to tense ties between Kurds and majority Arabs in Baghdad. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ

Why Barham Salih isn't Iraq's new president

Cengiz Candar

Cengiz Candar

Iraq's President Barham Salih delivers a televised speech to people in Baghdad, Iraq October 31, 2019. The Presidency of the Republic of Iraq Office/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1A7B372D10

Barham resignation would bring more chaos to Iraq

Dana Taib Menmy

Dana Taib Menmy