Kurdistan Prime Minister Engages with Turkish Officials on Regional Development

On May 9, 2026, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Region met with two Turkish ministers in Istanbul. He first met with Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss regional developments and the formation of Iraq's new federal cabinet. They highlighted the significance of the Development Road project, which aims to connect Gulf countries, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region with Türkiye and Europe via a railway network. Later, Barzani met with Alparslan Bayraktar, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, focusing on enhancing cooperation in energy, trade, oil, and electricity supply between Türkiye and the Kurdistan Region. These meetings reflect ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties and foster economic collaboration.

Key Points: • Prime Minister Barzani met with Turkish officials to discuss regional cooperation. • Key topics included the Development Road project and energy collaboration. • Meetings aimed to strengthen economic ties between the Kurdistan Region and Türkiye.