BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. Turkmenistan and
Iraq discussed prospects for cooperation in the migration
sector.
This was reflected in a press release published by the State
Migration Service of Turkmenistan following the meeting held
yesterday between the representatives of the service and Iraq’s
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Turkmenistan, Jassim Mohammed
Al-Attar.
In the course of the meeting, the sides exchanged views on
opportunities for bilateral cooperation in migration and discussed
its priority areas.
The parties also noted the level of bilateral relations between
the two countries and expressed confidence in the further
development of cooperation.
To note, Turkmenistan and Iraq established diplomatic relations
in 2009 and have since explored cooperation in political, economic
and humanitarian affairs. Iraq opened its embassy in Ashgabat in
March 2026, 17 years after diplomatic ties were established. In
December 2025, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid visited Ashgabat
and met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. In July 2026,
Iraq’s Council of Ministers authorized the country’s trade minister
to negotiate and sign a draft agreement with Turkmenistan covering
economic, trade, scientific, technical and cultural
cooperation.
Energy has also featured in bilateral discussions. The countries
explored a swap arrangement for Turkmen natural gas to reach Iraq
through Iran, but Reuters reported in September 2025 that the
proposed deal had been suspended after Baghdad failed to secure
U.S. approval amid sanctions concerns. The arrangement therefore
remains distinct from an operational gas supply route.
