It is Kadhimi’s first visit to Turkey since taking office in May, despite repeated invitations by Turkey. Except for Syria, Kadhimi has already traveled to Iraq's other neighbors and partners, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Europe.

Relations between the two countries suffered several setbacks this year, particularly over Turkey’s military operations in northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region that have killed at least twelve civilians and two Iraqi border guard commanders. Turkey says the operations are necessary to combat the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, where they discussed the implementation of the recently-agreed Sinjar agreement and recent tensions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PKK.

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